
Qass_^r_Z, 



COIIEMORATIYE ADDRESS, 

AT ROYALSON, AUGUST 23d, 1865; 

The Hundredth Anniversary of its Incorporation. 



®^ 4^ H^ ®mll@© 



mtJ)M 



OF WORCESTER. 
WITH THE 

POEM, OTHEE PROCEEDINGS, 

AND 



WINCHEND ON : 

PRINTED BY FRANK W. WARD. 
1865. 



PREFACE. 



The object of this volume is to present and transmit the ac- 
complished history ot Royalston's First Century. 

In pursuance of this object prominence has been given to the 
able and comprehensive Commemoration Address of the Hon. 
Alexander H. Bullock, delivered at the recent Centennial of 
the Town. 

Appended thereto wijl be found a series of notes, covering 
materials deemed worthy of preservation, as either illustrating 
the text and contributing to the fullness of the history therein 
out-lined, or valuable for future reference. For these materials, 
obligation is due in great part to the contributions of Benoni 
Feck, Esq., of Fitzwilliam, — a native, and, till lately, an honored 
citizen of Royalston, and his son, Henry Peck, of Winchendon, 
and to the labors of the Historical Committee, whose prepara- 
tion for our late celebration was both laborious and effective. 

It was manifestly proper, as certainly it was expected, that 
some connected report of the Centennial should be given in 
these pages. By general consent it was a success. Its records 
here will be grateful to those who participated in it, interesting 
to friends prevented from doing so, and it may indicate, to those 



IV. 

who shall celebrate the Bi- Centennial of Royalston, how these 
tilings were done in the dim and distant past. 

Anxious to bring this volume within modest limits, and to 
delay as little as possible its issue, we may have failed in full- 
ness of selection, and extent of original investigation. We 
have aimed, however, to be just to historical facts, and impar- 
tial toward the various sections and interests of the town. 

Hoping that the next contribution to the history of Royalston 

may be drawn from more copious sources, through the more 

abundant prosperity of the town, and that its execution may 

fall into abler hands, this memorial volimie is commended to the 

considerate reception of the citizens, natives, descendants and 

friends of the town. 

E. W. BULLAED, ) Committee 

DANIEL DAVIS, } of 

JOSEPH R. EATON. ) Publication. 

Royalston, September, 1865. 



REPORT 



OF THE 



ROYALSTON CENTENNIAL. 



The question of celebrating the Hundi-edth anniversary of 
the settlement and incorporation of Rojalston, had frequently 
been discussed, but no public action was taken thereon till April 
4th, 1864, when the Town chose a committee of seven to con- 
sider and report upon that question. 

The committee, consisting of Rev. E. W. Bullard, S. S. Far- 
rar, Jarvis Davis, Esq., J. L. Perkins, Cyrus Davis, John N. Bart- 
lett, and Luther Harrington, r-eported to the Town Nov. 8th, 
1864, the following recommendations: 

"1. That Wednesday, Aug. 23d, 1865, be the day for observ- 
ing the commemorative services of the settlement and incorpo- 
ration of the good old town of Royalston, now on the eve of its 
hundredth anniversary. 

2. That these services be, a Commemorative Address, Poems, 
a free collation, with appropriate religious exercises. 



3. That Royalston's honored son, and Massachusett's peerless 
orator, tlie Hon. Alexander H. Bullock, be invited to deliver 
the Address, and Samuel C. Gale, Esq., and Albert Bryant, A. 
M., the Poems. 

4. That a committee of citizens of Royalston be chosen 

by tlie town to invite the aforesaid gentlemen to perform for us 
these labors of love, and to arrange for and carry out to their 
consummation, in a liberal and earnest spirit, worthy of the 
town, the foregoing recommendations. 

5. That the Town choose a committee of seven to make re- 
searclies in reference to tlie history of Royalston, with a view 
to their preservation and ultimate publication, if it should be 
deemed advisable. 

6. That the Town, for the purposes aforesaid, raise and ap- 
propriate the sum of dollars." 

Recommendations 1, 2, and 3, were adopted by the town ; 
the blank in 4 was filled by fifteen, a committee of six, consist- 
ing of Joseph Raymond, Esq., Edmund Stockwell, Geo. Whit- 
ney, E. W. Bullard, J. A. Rich, and Benj. H. Brown, were cho- 
sen to nominate the committee of fifteen at a subsequent meet- 
ing, and the meeting adjourned to the 15th inst., at 2 o'clock, P. 
M. 

At the adjourned meeting the nominating committee reported 
the following names for the general committee of fifteen : Rev. 
E. W. Bullard, Joseph Raymond, Benj. H. Brown, Jarvis Davis, 
John N. Bartlett, Russell Morse, Jr., Cyrus B. Reed, Wellington 
White, Cyrus Davis, Arba Sherwin, John M. Upham, Edmund 
Stockwell, Timothy Clark, Joseph L. Perkins, and Ma^Tiard 
Partridge. 

Also for the Historical Committee of seven, the following 



names ; Barnett Bullock, Esq., Daniel Davis, John N. Bartlett, 
•Joseph R. Eaton, Chas. H. Newton, Luther Harrington, and Hor- 
ace Pierce. 

These nominations were adopted. 

A previous vote, providing for a free collation, was rescinded. 

The town voted to fill the blank in recommendation 6, with 
the wov^^ fifteen hundred, and then adopted the remaining recom- 
mendations. 

Thus far the action of the Town. 

Immediately upon the adjournment of the Town MQeting, the 
General Committee organized by the choice of E. W. Bullard, 
Chairman, and John N. Bartlett, Secretary. 

After instructing the Chairman and Secretary to inform the 
gentlemen, designated to deliver the Address and Poems, of the 
action of the Town, and invite them to accept their several ap- 
pointments, the committee adjourned till Dec. 12th, at 6 o'clock, 
P.M. 

From first to last, the committee held fifteen formal meetings ; 
most of which were fully attended, and all earnestly devoted to 
the business of deliberating, planning and carrying out the pror 
posed centennial, in the spirit contemplated by the Town. Be- 
sides these, there were various meetings of sub-committees, and 
not a little correspondence, consultation, and labor, involving no 
small amount of time and expense, in order to mature the gener- 
al plan, arrange the details, and ensure the success of the enter- 
prise entrusted to their charge. But all was cheerfully and 
gratuitously met, as well by members from the remote parts of 
the town, as those at the centre. The post of honor proved a 
post of sevice and personal sacrifice, but with unanimity at the 
outset and mutual gratulations at the close, the committee ac- 



8 

cepted the honor, and now offset the service bj the general hap- 
piness and grateful memories of the Centennial Day. •• 

The principle sub-committees, as finally arranged, consisted 
of— 

A Committee on Finance. — Joseph Raymond, John N. Bartlett, 
and Russell Morse, Jr. 

A Committee on Printing. — E. W. Bullard, Timothy Clark, and 
A. H. Brown. 

A Committee on the Dinner. — Russell Morse, Jr., John M. Up- 
ham, Maynard Partridge, and Edmund Stockwell. 

A Committee on Music. — Arba Sherwin, Maynard Partridge, 
and Wellington White. 

A Committee on the Platforms, Seats, Sjc, of the Speaher^s Tent. 
— Joseph Raymond, Joseph L. Perkins, Cyrus Davis, Cyrus B. 
Reed, and Jarvis Davis. 

The matter of special invitation, and reception, was left to 
the Committee of the Whole, a general circular being furnished 
for the Press, and 400 copies thereof, done up in a neat and 
convenient form, distributed among the members for their own 
use and the accommodation of their neighbors. 

In addition to the Orator and Poets chosen by the Town, the 
committee chose Rev. E. W. Bullard, of Royalston, President, 
Rev. A. E. P. Perkins, of Ware, Chaplain, Hon. George Whit- 
ney, of Royalston, Chief Marshal, and Benj. E. Perkins, Esq., of 
So. Danvers, Toast Master of the Day. 

Letters of acceptance, or the personal acceptance of these 
positions, were duly received from all these gentlemen, except 
Samuel C. Gale, of Minneapolis, Minn., who was obliged reluc- 
tantly to decline. The services of the Ashburnham Cornet 
Band, and of the united Choirs of the Town were secured for 
the Day. 



The dinner committee, with the sanction of the General Com- 
mittee, finally contracted with M. F. Bigelow, of Roxbury, Ca- 
terer, to furnish a dinner, as per Bill of Fare specified, provid- 
ing an ample tent at his own expense, and laying and serving 
800 plates for $1600. Complimentary tickets to this dinner 
were voted to the Orator, Poet, Chaplain, and Toast Master of 
the Day, their ladies, and the Band. The remaining tickets 
were put at $2 00 a piece. Col. Whitney offered a suitable 
site, near his residence, for the erection of the Dinner Tent, 
which offer was gratefully accepted. 

A spacious tent for the Public Exercises was also contracte d 
for, to be put up and furnished under the direction of the sub- 
committee having that matter in charge, on the beautiful grounds 
of R. D. Ripley, Esq., immediately north of his residence, 
leave having been generously accorded. 

The Chief Marshal, was requested to select his own Assistant 
Marshals. 

Vice Presidents, and Secretaries of the Day were chosen, 
whose names will appear below. 

Such were the general arrangements adopted by the Centen- 
nial Committee. 



The Centennial Day, preceded by a stormy evening and 
night, opened with one of the most perfect summer morns, — dis- 
sipating our fears, and realizing all our hopes. All was fresh 
and beautiful. Royalston stood forth unveiled and radiant, to 
welcome back her children, and children's children from abroad, 
and smile approval on all who had come to do her filial honor. 



10 

Many were the returning ones, long separated from the scenes 
of childliood and youth ; many the strangers improving this op- 
portunity to make pious pilgrimage to tlie early homes or graves 
of their ancestors and friends; many the less personally related 
who yet came from city and town, attracted by the occasion, and 
assured of a welcome to our homes, and the pleasures of the day. 

At an early hour the Common began to be alive. All the av- 
enues poured in their contributions to swell the multitude. Old 
acquaintances and friends were constantly meeting. Groups 
gathered on the streets, and at almost every door, warmly 
greeting and greeted, and all enthusiastic. The people were 
all abroad in the pure air, pleased with one another, proud of 
old Royalston, and grateful for the auspices of such a glorious 
morning. 

At length the notes of Marshal Music sounded the call to the 
rendezvous in front of the Church, and at about 10 A. M. the 
grand procession began to form, under the direction of the 
Chief Marshal, assisted by a large staflf of citizens. After brief 
marching and counter-marching, to the inspiring music of the 
Band, the gallant Colonel had his thousands "just where he 
wanted them" — comfortably seated in the Speaker's Tent. — 
Proceeding to the residence of Mr. Ripley, with a special escort, 
he received the Speakers and Ofl&cers of the Day, with their la- 
dies, and conducted them also to the Tent. 

Every movement had been on time, and the mammoth pavilion 
was in perfect order when the hour for public services arrived. 

The Chief Marshal, ascending the platform, introduced the 
President of the Day. 

The President announced the following Vice Presidents and 
Secretaries, and invited them to their appropriate seats : 



I 



11 

Vice Presidents. — Capt Samuel Lee of Templeton, Rev. Aranii 
Nichols of Braiutree, N. H., Hon. Geo. C. Richardson of Cam- 
bridge, Benoni Peck, Esq., of Fitzwilliam, N. H., Harrison Bliss 
of Worcester, Chauncej Peck of Boston, Rev. Henry Cum- 
niings of Newport, N. H., Rev. Sidney Holman of Goshen, Rev. 
Daniel Shepardson of Cincinnati, 0:, Rev. Ebenezer Cutler of 
Worcester, Thomas Norton of Portland, Me., James Raymond 
of Brooklyn, N. Y., and Hon. Davis Goddard of Orange. 

Secretaries. — John P. Gregory of Cambridge, and Joseph E. 
Raymond of Boston. 

Tiiese announcements made, the Band was called upon for 
Music, 

The Chaplain, Rev. A. E. P. Perkins, being introduced, read 
appropriate selections of Scripture, and offered prayer. 
The President then arose and said : 

"Ladies and Gentlemen : I am charged with a welcome for 
the assembled children and friends of Royalston. It shall be 
briefly spoken. 

Welcome to this Centennial Day ! Welcome to these com- 
memorative services ! Welcome to the fast rising memories of 
the past, and the fresh joys of the present hour ! Welcome to 
the reunion of kindred, neighbors and friends, recalled by this 
occasion to tread once more together the old familiar paths, and 
recount the varied experiences of life ! Welcome to this jubi- 
lee, gratefully harmonious with the public joy in the triumph of 
government and law over treason and rebellion, of unity over 
disruption, liberty over oppression! Indeed, a redeemed and 
vindicated country, methinks, welcomes this natal day of a loyal 
town, gives you joy in the keeping of it, and, with a significance 
larger than ever before, pledges you security in the possession 



12. 

and enjoyment of the birthright of freemen. And the old flag, 
too, baptized anew in blood, and consecrated afresh to Ameri- 
can liberty and life, welcomes you to this festival beneath her 
ample and glorified folds. She, too, remembers the sires, whose 
counsel and courage gave her birth ; and proudly does she salute 
the sons, who have now given their voice to say it, and their 
blood to seal — "Let her be perpetual ! Let her remain entire /" 

We meet to commemorate the history of a hundred years — to 
recall and honor the names and the deeds, both of the living and 
the dead, that have made this history worthy of commemoration. 

A hundred years ago, and these hills and valleys were covered 
with the primeval forest ; these streams, streamlets, and water- 
falls wasted their song, as did the wild flowers their sweetness 
upon the desert air. All was a waste of Nature, awaiting 
some plastic hand to evoke her latent powers, and bid the wil- 
derness rejoice. 

A hundred years have past since the advent of that hand ; 
and to-day the air is full of the memories, and our eyes behold 
the substantial records of what that hand has wrought. 

To give these memories tongue, these records form, and beau- 
ty, and enduring life, is the grateful office of the hour. 

I felicitate you in gifted sons, able and willing to discharge 
the sacred trust, — a Bullock, upon whose lips the college, senate 
and people alike, delighted hang, and to honor whom with her 
highest gift the commonwealth impatient waits ; and a Bryant, 
early smitten with the love of song, and still allegiant to that 
early love. 

You wait to hear them ; and I, not less eager, this welcome 
spoken, give place to their labors of filial love and fraternal en- 
tertainment." 



13 

Tlie united choirs of the town now sang, to the tune of 
'•Auld Lang Syne," led h^ Geo. F. Miller, the following original 
Hymn, written for the occasion. 

By Mrs. George Woodbury, of Royalston : 

The memr'y of a hundred years, 

Unfolds its scattered page, 
And welcomes back, with grateful tears, 

A past, and present age. 
We welcome, now, the good old day, 

Whence gleamed a rising sun, 
To guide our footsteps in the way 

That echoes hack "well done." 

The Red-man's feet had wandered here, 

Where first our grandsires trod ; 
Their hearts were filled with hope and fear — 

Their firmest trust was God. 
That hand still leads and guides us on 

When brighter days illume : 
And "home, sweet home," is now our song, 

While paeans swell the tune. 

Amid the nodding forest pines, 

Their homes a shelter found. 
Where now we train the clustering vines, 
^ And broad, green fields abound. 

Then welcome, welcome, ever more 

The names, our hearts enshrine, 
And while we count their hardships o'er, 

Join all in "Auld Lang Syne." 

We greet, with joy, this hallow'd day, 

Sweet impress of the past ; 
'Twill ever shed a ling'ring ray, 

Time will not soon outlast. 
We greet you friends, we greet you now, 



14 

Who claim a birth-right here, 
Though age has marked the earnest brow, 
And silvered locks appear. ' 

We welcome back the young and old, 

The statesman, priest and sage, 
And seal a friendship, tried and told. 

That changes not with age. 
We sing a requiem for the dead. 

Our mem'ries still retain, 
And on their graves our tears will shed 

While our short lives remain. 

We welcome back a hundred years. 

And breathe a gentle sigh, 
That mingles with our hopes, and fears, 

'Mid changes ever nigh. 
Soon will another century end, 

Earth's dearest ties be riven, 
Then may these hearts, which sweetly blend. 

Sing with one voice in Heaven. 

Following this Hymn, came the Commemorative Address, by 
the Hon. Alexander H. Bullock. 

Mr. Bullock's address, as delivered, occupied about one hour 
and a half; and held the undivided attention of his large audi- 
ence to the last. Very much was expected of him ; but no one 
could take in that sea of expressive faces, during any part of 
the discourse, and doubt that expectation was more than real- 
ized. A style and manner so happily adapted to the theme and 
the occasion, such hearty good will, and filial tenderness breath- 
ing through the whole performance, — so much, both of beauty 
and of worth, drawn from the simple story of a rural town, far 
back in the interior, and all made so real and important, and so 
naturally suggesting the eloquent and instructive sentiments 



15 

with which the orator varied and enriched his discourse, could 
not fail to satisfy the largest anticipation. 

Considerable portions of the written address were not spoken. 
The whole, however, will be found in the body of this volume. 
Nor will it suffer, as the speeches of some men must always suf- 
fer, by being transferred from the rostrum to the printed page. 

After the Address, the Band again discoursed sweet music. 

The Poet of the Day, Mr. Albert Bryant, now came forward, 
and delivered a Commemorative Poem, entitled "Memorials and 
Garlands," which will be found immediately after the printed 
Address ; and will add to the interest and value of these pages, 
as its delivery added pleasure and finish to the public exercises. 

These exercises closed by the choir and audience uniting in 
singing, to the immortal "Old Hundred," the 117th Psalm, L. M. 

From all who dwell below the skies, 
Let the Creator's praise arise ; 
Let the Eedeemer's name be sung, 
Through every land, by every tongue. 

Eternal are thy mercies, Lord ; 

Eternal truth attend thy word ; 

Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore, 

Till suns shall rise, and set, no more. 

The Chief Marshal now re-formed the procession, and marched 
to the Dinner Tent, where about 800 guests sat down to tables 
tastefully spread and adorned, and beautifully crowned with the 
substantial, and luxuries of the season. 

A blessing was craved by the chaplain. After the feast had 
been discussed to the apparent satisfaction of all, the President 
called the company to order, and introduced the Toast Master, 
Benj. C. Perkins, Esq., whose sentiments, and the hearty respon- 



ses elicited by them, rounded out the festival, and left nothing 
more for the consummation of our anniversary, than the reluc- 
tant partings, and the garnering of its grateful memories. 

We extract the closing paragraphs of a notice of our centen- 
nial, which appeared in the Barre Gazette : 

"The President of the United States" — was responded to by 
the band — with — "When Johnnie comes marching home." Edwin 
Pierce of New York responded for the "Sons of Royalston ;" Geo. 
Richardson of Cambridge,"for the metropolis ;" Hon. Artemas Lee 
of Templeton, "for Worcester county ;" Rev. Mr. Marvin of Win- 
chendon, for "our sister towns ;" the choir — in a piece of ancient 
music — for "ye olden time ;" Mr. Gregory of Chicago, for "the 
west;" Rev. Mr. Perkins of Ware, for "the clergy ;" the band for 
"the battle-fields of our country ;" with the "Star Spangled Ban- 
ner ;■' Rev. Sidney Holman for "the school-masters ;" Rev. ]\[r. 
Woodworth for "the fellows who stole the hearts of our daugh- 
ters ;" the choir for "the flag of Sumptcr ;" and closed with Auld 
Lang Syne. 

The music by the Ashburnham Band was truly soul-stirring, 
and the singing, under the direction of Mr. George F. Miller, 
was excellent, and both contributed materially to the enjoyment 
of the occasion. Great credit is also due to the efficiency and 
promptness of the chief marshal, Hon. Geo. Whitney, for the 
general good order which prevailed. It was evident that the 
committee of arrangements and citizens generally had spared no 
efforts to make the occasion agreeable to all, and the result 
showed how entirely successful those efforts had been. Alto- 
gether it was an occasion to be long and pleasantly remembered 
by the multitude who were present. 

A public meeting of the citizens of Royalston, was notified 
and held in the Town Hall, on the 2d of September, following 
the Centennial, with reference to publishing the doings of the 
day. 



11 

Barnett Bullock, Esq. was chosen Moderator, and John N. 
Bartlett, Secretary of the meeting. 

The following "Preamble and Resolutions" were reported, 
discussed and adopted. 

''Whereas it is the duty of the present to commemorate the 
past, and transmit the deposits of history to the future ; and 
whereas the preparation for, and the results of, our recent cen- 
tennial have brought together varied and important materials, 
and the close of the first and the opening of the second century 
of the incorporate life of Royalston, afibrds the fitting occasion, 
therefore, 

Resolved, 1. That we, citizens of this town, convened in 
public meeting to consider this matter, will take immediate 
measures to secure the compilation and publication of the history 
of Royalston. 

Resolved, 2. That a committee of three be chosen to carry 
the above resolution into effect as speedily as possible. 

Resolved, 3. That the history proposed should be comprised 
in an octavo volume of from 150 to 200 pages, bound in a neat 
and substantial, but not expensive binding, and that the copies 
printed should not exceed 500. 

Resolved, 4. That wc highly appreciate the Commemorative 
Address and Poem^ pronounced on the 03oasioa of the recent 
centennial of the town ; and that we instruct the Moderator of 
this meeting to tender our thanks to their authors, and request 
a copy of each for publication. 

Resolved, 5. That we gratefully acknowledge the services of 
the Historical Committee of the town, in investigating our rec- 
ords, and gathering our reminiscences ; and respectfully request 



18 

the gentlemen composing that committee to co-operate with us in 
giving completeness and permanence to their labors." 

The committee, mider the 2d resolution, was filled by the 
choice of Rev. E. W. Bullard, Daniel Davis, and Joseph R. Ea- 
ton. 



^ 



1 @l 



OP 



^ 



.^ 



\^\m 



ADDRESS 



OP 



ALEXANDER H. BULLOCK. 



Natives and Relatives op Royalston, Friends and Fellow 

Citizens : 

Under this spacious awning, on this church lawn and training 
field of the fathers, we have assembled to commemorate the 
birthday of our native town.* After the lapse of a century from 
its first chartered existence, when the men who made the begin- 
ning have so long rested from their labors that the same mould 
of time has gathered over their names and over their dust, and 
their heroic courage and christian endurance have been partially 
forgotten for the want of annals, and this rolling territory has 
passed out of its forest infancy into the maturity of cultured 
fields, ample dwellings, and an elevated social life, we meet, not 
so much for the recital pf a scanty history, as to indulge the e- 
motions of the anniversary, and to bid the next generations hail I 
And yet, whatever the contrast may be of the past with the 
present, this hour witnesses the homage of a people plain like 
their ancestors, among whom the conventionalities of civilization 

— *8ee Appendix. Note A. 



22 

have introduced but little of artificial rule, or thought, or custom 
of life, — around whom the hills and valleys still echo the ancient 
simplicity. Our home and birth-place offers no boast of the 
early or later days. Our town has only moved, without eclat, 
in the paths of an hundred years of allegiance to Christ and the 
state, — has without pretence to fame responded to every requisi- 
tion of peace and war, — has constantly kept its step, sometimes 
feebly, but at all times according to its ability, to the marches of 
public growth and enterprise, until in the grand results of this 
day it appears in the sisterhood of the municipalities asking no 
higher renown than to be credited with having been in every 
emergency honest, truthful, and faithful. The just man can rest 
upon such a foundation ; the just town can erect its centennial 
banner upon a ground so simple and broad as that. With such 
claim to historical justice and historical participation this an- 
cient municipality now calls us all back under the shade of her 
roof-tree ; and we are proudly satisfied to celebrate the day. 

I have alluded to the paucity of our annals. The records of 
the town are considerably meagre, inexplicit, and unsatisfactory. 
Many reasons might possibly be assigned for this, but that which 
seems to be most conclusive, is also most creditable to this com- 
munity. The town, the church, has from the beginning been ex- 
empt from those civil and ecclesiastical controversies which 
have left upon the records of most other communities of New 
England, full and voluminous materials for history. I find noth- 
ing of that sort in your public chest. The life and action of these 
generations here has been so peaceful and so regular that the 
clerk has had little to enter upon his book. I apprehend that 
scarcely an ancient town of the state can present a parallel with 
this. Such has been the uniformity, the harmony, the serenity 



23 

of this smooth current of population, from the commencement 
until now, that the present occasion is furnished with little that 
is eventful and with nothing that is dramatic. A town far away 
from the sea, and therefore without the inspiring excitement of 
ocean commerce, — a precinct that bears no vestiges of the abo- 
rigines, and is in this respect so unlike the more southerly towns, 
which had half a century of life crowded with Indian traditions, 
that I cannot find that those original lords ever lighted a pipe 
or a fire here, — a church without a schism in a century, — a min- 
istry that never knew how to quarrel, — a people that have 
walked the paths of unambitious duty ; these make our record 
uninteresting for the public address. But these also make our 
claim to the highest distinction of municipal fame. This equa- 
ble progress of four generations, without anything that is start- 
ling in savage or civilized adventure, has made our history com- 
paratively tame ; but it is the tameness of beneficence, of a people 
who have been content without observation to pour the ceaseless 
tributaries of a small and distant town into the swelling volume 
of the growth, the power, and the renown of the state. 

And yet, simple and unpretending as is the connection of this 
town with the origin and development of the whole of America, 
the founders of these local habitations were allies and partakers 
in the great scheme of the settlement of a new world. The 
fathers under this charter were of the fathers of the last chapter 
of civilization. In accordance with the law of colonization their 
names share the radiance of the sun from the east. They moved 
under the star of empire to glorious co-operation in the posses- 
sion of the noblest inheritance of the race. The municipalities 
of Massachusetts have an honor altogether their own as a part 
of the instrumentalities which have borne the standard of chris- 



24 

tian republicanism to the western limits of the continent. Our 
own ancestors had a share in that blessed lineaf2;e, and in that 
dark and bloody experience of a century and a half, of which 
this age enjoys the marvellous fruition. The divine beauty of 
the present has come to us out of the inappreciable sufferings of 
the past. The angel choirs which have accompanied the divinity 
of modern liberty, which sang amid the sighing pines around 
Geneva, and chanted as escort to a representative state and a 
representative church in the first settlement of this ancient colo- 
ny, and sweetened those first years of want and famine, and 
pestilential terrors, have passed over these fields in their com- 
ing. All the days of the puritans, all the scenes of their pilgrim- 
age, — Plymouth out of Leyden, Massachusetts Bay out of Ply- 
mouth, all the towns of Worcester North out of Massachusetts 
Bay, — from the landing on the rock to the war of King Philip, 
thence to the French wars, and onward to the revolution, and the 
constitution and all the glories under it — over the long track, ev- 
erywhere, it is a unity, a connection, one providence, one succes- 
sion, one agency, in which they who lighted their camp fires in the 
face of Indians in Lancaster and Brookfield, and they who cleared 
fields in the presence of wild beasts in Templeton and Royalston 
were pursuing a common destiny for the success of a republican 
church and an American liberty. And so we have a part to-day 
with the founders of the New England polity, whose mark is 
over the whole continent. 

There was a natural order in the settlement of these towns. 
English colonization in America wisely adopted the sea-board 
as its base, and extended its operations to the interior. In this 
order of the possession and clearing of the country our own 



25 

town came late, being more remote than any other in the county 
from the seminal sources of the state. Some of the towns in the 
southerly part of the county were occupied by the Anglo-Ameri- 
can an hundred years earlier than this. Indeed, of the entire 
territory of Worcester county, as the same was disposed of by 

grants and charters, our own town is the junior of all by many 
years ; for although our neighbors, Templeton and Athol, were 
both incorporated on the same day, only about three years before 
us, and Winchendon preceded us by only a single year of its 
charter, yet, as to all those towns, grants of lands and settlements 
had been made much earlier, varying from twenty to thirty 
years. The wave of occupation seemed to pause immediately 
below our border for some years. This being frontier territory, 
an outside row was left for a long time unplanted. Nor was 
this fact without its advantages ; for though our late coming into 
the family of charters has cut us off from some of the excite- 
ments of early traditions, which I greatly appreciate as stimula- 
tions to public character, it gave to the early settlers here the 
benefits of the maturity of the posessions surrounding them. So 
that while the first occupants of Athol were obliged to maintain 
a garrison against the Indians who had kept a seat there to a 
late day, the triumph and success which followed was ap- 
propriated to the security of the first comers in Royal-shire. 
But the special advantage of coming after our sisters of the 
county is better illustrated by the fact that the novitiate of col- 
onization, the interim between settlement and municipality, was 
thus made so brief that between the first planting and the first 
fruit there was scarcely an appreciable space of time ; for, while 



26 

it occurred in other parts of this county that thirty and forty 
years elapsed after settlement before municipal incorporation, 
that intervening period was represented here by only the inter- 
val of three years. These lands were scarcely known as a val- 
ue to the first shrewd proprietors at Boston before the town 
itself took a place in the provincial records as a living commu- 
nity, a political power, a participator in the fortunes of the com- 
monwealth. Thus there was no infancy here; it was robust 
manhood from tlie start. 

The territory of this town has undergone many changes, and 
indeed was a subject of some uncertainty at the outset."^ June 
4, 1752, a vote was approved in Council ordering a sale of the 
lands north of Pequoig, now Athol, and onward to the province 
line. The purpose was to clear the map ; and so effectually was 
this accomplished, tliat the surveyor's chain swept in a strip of 
several miles in length lying along the whole northern boundary 
of Winchendon, separating it from the province line, which had 
been inadverdently omitted in the survey of that town ; and this 
was afterwards called the Royalston leg. For obvious rea- 
sons the limb proved an incumbrance, and was severed in 1780, 
when these many acres which had come to us like an estray, 
were transferred to Winchendon. Under the sovereignty of our 
king, the township was sold at public vendue. This form of 
procedure, under Avhich the country itself had been ceded by 
charters and was afterwards parcelled out, was a part of tliat 
policy which, following up the law of discovery and conquest by 
internal settlement and improvement, has made England the 
great power of the earth, under which she even now plants her 

— *Xote B. 



27 

authority and extends her civilization alike in India and in 
North America. The purchasers and first proprietors of our 
town were men of exalted names and characters. And although 
they were proprietors only, not settlers, yet I cannot doubt that 
association with so much of fame and virtue left impressions of 
manliness and honor upon those who came and remained here. 
Samuel Watts, Thomas Hubbard, Isaac Royal, James Otis, Isaac 
Freeman, and others, for the consideration of ,£1348, took the 
title to 28,357 acres, exclusive of former private grants. These 
grants, amounting to 1700 acres, are known in the archives at 
the State House as Pierpont's, Priest's and Hapgood's. In ac- 
cordance with the wise policy of the government of that day, — 
a policy which has been continued by the general government 
since our independence in every time of war, and at no time so 
liberally as in our recent conflict with the Rebellion, — the sover- 
eign power had bestowed these grants as bounties for military 
services rendered. I call them military services, for such they 
were, whether rendered in the field or at home in support of 
the field. The name attached to one of these grants has be- 
come a part of the local geography and daily life of the town. 
Priest, who received 300 acres as a recognition of his loyalty 
in extending the hospitality of his half-way house near the 
easterly line of the town to all those who passed that way to 
and from the French wars, will ever live in the beautiful river 
which bears his name. And so long as the calm flow of its 
waters shall continue, so long shall live the memories of that ser- 
vice which associates your town with the pioneers and the rangers, 
with the Lily of France, with Louisburg, with that fidelity to 
the crown of our king in those days which I cannot but like, with 



28 

those wars for onr royal Georges which prepared and educated 
our fathers afterward to overwhelm all kings in the Revolution. 

I have lived in this town long enough to have learned that in 
the trade of land we can calculate as closely as other men ; and 
let me remind you that we inherit the talent from an honorable 
ancestry. I find in the Massachusetts Archives, volume 46, that 
these same Watts, Royal, and Otis at length discovered that as 
far back as 1737 the Court had made a private grant of GOO 
acres to Benoni Moore and others, afterwards assigned to one 
Hunt and thenceforward known under his name, and that the 
location had been taken by him in the very heart of the best 
land, 200 acres of which, however, had somehow been relin- 
quished ; whereupon they claimed other acres as good somewhere 
else in the Province, or an equivalent relief. Certainly this 
seemed a very plausible land claim, and the allowance was vo- 
ted. Subsequently, it appears by the report of a Committee, 
that after the allowance of the claim, a correct survey disclosed 
that these proprietors had originally taken 500 acres more than 
their deed expressed, and more than they paid for, leaving them 
quite largely in debt to the Province ; which I cannot see that 
they ever made good, though probably the advantage does not 
inure to any present landholder ot Royalston. 

And so your town began under a territorial proprietorship of 
30,577 acres, the private grants included. In 1780 the unman- 
ageable leg, estimated at about 2000 acres, was set off to Win- 
chendon. In 1783 several thousand acres were appropriated to 
Orange, when that town was incorporated. In 1799, 300 or 400 
acres were added from Athol and Gerry (now Phillipston.) 
In 1803 several hundred acres were added from Athol. In 



29 

1837 not far from 200 acres were taken out of Phillipston, and 
annexed to j'our jurisdiction. 

The title and charter muniments, therefore, now assign to this 
municipality not far from 26000 acres.* It has the disadvantage 
of remoteness from the sea and of a northern frontier contigui- 
ty, which is considerable ; but it enjoys the compensations of a 
soil submissive to cultivation, rigorous to the sight, but yielding 
generously to the stroke of the earnest arm, — of benignant 
drifts and ranges, — of the affluent waterfalls of Miller's and 
Priest's rivers, and of the simpler Lawrence and Tully, which 
give riclmess because they give plenty, — of rural beauty, worthy 
of historic record, at the Royal falls of Forbes and of Doane, — 
of the sparkling mineral gems which the official geologist of 
Massachusetts once told me he had gladly set in his family seal, 
— of an atmosphere that inspires youth and enlivens age.f — 
of territorial possessions, simple indeed, but glistening with the 
authority of the names of the fathers of American Independence, 
— of a planting in the mountain air, of a history studded with 
patriotic associations, of a religious connection that shall bear 
your children to the heights of a happy remembrance of the 
names of their fathers, — of a place on the sweet, broad plain of 
this civilization of Worcester North, stars encircling overhead, 
and a simple robustness of character sustaining the people. 

And so you will adhere to the territorial vestments dropped 
upon you and around you by your ancestors, clinging to your 
acres and yielding them not to other calls. Your town is sym- 

eti 'cal and compact, large enough and small enough, and bears 
a just proportion to the prescriptive idea of a Massachusetts 

— * Note B. 
— t Note C. 



30 

township of six miles square. I would not diminish it nor en- 
large it. Let other municipalities nibble around your borders, 
but let them nibble in vain, and you will hold fast to that which 
is good, and which is none too much. 

And now if we revert to the proceedings of these purchasers 
of our soil, we discover from their journals that they held pro- 
prietors' meetings from 1753 over a period of thirty-four years, 
until 1787, when their records were closed and sealed*. To 
James Otis, Isaac Royal, and their original associates, John 
Hancock was added as an owner in 1765. No town can assert 
a better beginning or a more reputable heritage of name and 
blood. The proprietors held their meetings in Boston, " at the 
Bunch of Grapes Tavern." At the first meeting it was " mo- 
tioned that the land aforesaid be called Royal-shire, and they 
unanimously agreed thereto, whereupon the Hon. Isaac Royal 
generously gave his word to give the Partners X25 sterling, to- 
wards building a meeting-house for said town." Here we first 
find our name. 

The Hon. Isaac Royal was a citizen of Mcdford, a gentleman 
of great spirit for public enterprise, devoted in admiration for 
his king, and generous and munificent for his time. He was a 
member of the General Court and of the Council for twenty-two 
years. The pulpit Bible whicli was used in this First Congre- 
gational society for seventy-five years, was a gift from him. — 
He also gave two thousand acres, a large part of which was in 
this town, to found the professorship of law in Harvard Univer- 
sity which still bears his name. He promised to give a full lot 
of land in this township to the first male child that should be 
born here, but several girls taking the precedence of birth, 

— *Note D. 



31 

Royal Chase, named after him, came too late on the stage, and 
died too early, to make the proffer availing. For, in the mean- 
time, the elements of the Revolution gathered and broke, and 
our benefactor and friend, Isaac Royal, who could not give up 
his king, passed over to the tories, sailed for England in 1776, 
and never returned. It is related m the history of the refugees 
that after his departure even his beautiful estate at Medford re- 
fused cultivation, that the scythe relucted to cut tory grass, and 
the oxen to plough tory soil. The tone of his letters from Eng- 
land in 1779, written before Independence was by any means 
assured, indicated his yearning desire to return to Massachusetts, 
and to make his last bed by the side of his relatives and friends. 
But the desire came too late, for by the sweeping act of October 
16, 1778, passed by the House of Representatives, and approv- 
ed in Council, he whose name we hear, received the indelible 
character of an exile and an outlaw.* But let not that which 
was a political necessity of the time perpetuate his reproach ; 
and this, I perceive, was the judg-ment of our fathers. No town 
was more patriotic than this in the Revolution ; but I rejoice that 
its citizens appear never for one moment to have thought of giv- 
ing up their corporate name because their benefactor had es- 
tranged himself from their political opinions. The name of this 
town and the title of the Cambridge law professorship may hon- 
orably be retained in his remembrance. 

The first- possession of this soil by our ancestors dates from 
1752, but the French war of 1756 — the most dramatic and 
engrossing contest on this continent prior to that of the Rev- 
olution — tlu'ew all the arts and labors of peaceful enterprise 

— *Note D. 



32 



into suspense and abeyance for several years. Yon will appre- 
ciate how and why the clcarinf? and culture of the glebe was 
suspended here to make way for the practice of the bayonet, if 
you recall that the whole population of the province was drawn 
into the vortex of that war. Not in the Revolution, not in the 
late Rebellion of which the pressure is still heavy on your hearts, 
were the young men, who settle the land, so disproportionately 
called into the field of arms. In that conflict of seven years we 
are informed that Massachusetts alone sent to the field thirty- 
five thousand of her sons, and ^cxen thousand for each of three 
successive years. Every nook and corner of this province was 
exhausted by the universal call. 

As tiie war approached its end the permanent settlement of 
these lands began. In sympathy with the policy of the fathers 
of New England, the proprietors of Royal-shire laid our foun- 
dations in moral and mental education. At their first meeting 
in 1753 they had directed the land to be laid oflF into 60 lots 
for settlers, and three others for a minister, for the support of 
worship, and for a school. Their committee came here and per- 
sonally superintended this work, and selected the wild spot so 
familiar to us on the Lawrence stream for the mills. The church 
and the school, the saw mill and the grist mill, were the early 
handmaids of our civilization. They are so to this day in the 
West, beyond the Mississippi, where our example is repeated. 
In 1701, the war having spent its fury, deeds had been granted 
to twenty-one settlers. In the next year these ten acres near 
which you have pitched your pavilion were solemnly consecrated 
for tiie meeting house, the training field, and the burial ground, 
— the last of which was subsequently by exchange removed a 



33 

little farther to the South, out of what is now this comely vil- 
lage ; and a contract was made for the mills. 

In the following year, 1763, a meeting house was contracted 
for at two hundred pounds, which was completed in 1764. — 
Still another year witnessed the prompt execution of the wise 
policy of the founders, in setting apart 231 acres for the first 
minister, 424 acres for the ministry, and 420 acres for the 
school. To procure sixty settlers the proprietors offered to 
each man one hundred acres, with the condition of settling a 
clergyman, clearing six acres, and building every one a house. 
No higher wisdom than this ever initiated a town or a state. — 
And then the remaining lots were divided among the proprietors 
by drawing ; and that was the profit which they deserved.* 

In this year, 1765, February 16th, the act of incorporation of 
the town, under tlie name of Royalston, was approved in Council. 
No copy of the act appears among your files. Accordingly I have 
availed myself of the kindness of the present obliging Secretary 
of State, Hon. Oliver Warner, and have procured a literal tran- 
script of the charter, handsomely engrossed upon parchment and 
bearing his attestation, which the town clerk will please faithful- 
ly preserve. It is the titular charter of the last and youngest of 
all the towns of this ancient and noble County in the days of 
the province and of the royal arms. It is worthy of preserva- 
tion, for under it your fathers have kept the public name untar- 
nished, and you will see to it that no blemish shall alight upon 
the life of the present generation.f 

The active settlement of this town began in 1762, when six 
families moved in, some of whose blood still circulates among 

— *lsrote F. 
— jNotc G. 



34 

your residents. I think we may estimate highly the soundness 
of the stock of these sturdy pioneers, since it appears the aver- 
age age of these six heads at their death was not less than 
76 years. So rapid was the influx of new comers, that almost 
soon after the French war had closed as many as seventy five 
heads of families had become established here, many of whose 
names help to fill your voting list in the present day. Time 
will not allow me to make use of the long list which is in my 
hands as I should like. Theirs was a wilderness life under a 
degree of hardship, of toil and deprivation, which only strong 
arms and hearts valiant in Christian faith could have sustained. 
No imagination of this day, no preserved traditions of the 
past, can do justice to those early labors. Many of these men 
who came hither from Sutton, as was illustrated in the instance 
of Capt. Sibley, would clear a piece of wood-land here, go back 
to look after haymaking in Sutton, and return in time 
to sow a rye-field in Royalston. Prior to the erection 
of the first mill by Isaac Gale, bags of grain were 
carried on the shoulders of men to a neighboring town 
to be ground and brought back in the same manner. No 
wonder that they who thus opened the pathway in this town 
with humble means, and patient labor, were the same that con- 
fronted boldly James Otis and John Hancock, a committee of the 
proprietors, and insisted before the legislature upon the justice 
and equity of taxing the lands of non-residents for the support 
of the Gospel ; and no wonder that they succeeded against even 
those overshadowing names. I desire not to appear invidious 
in selecting out of so many who were prominent in their day.* 
The three Selectmen chosen at the first town meeting May 7th, 

— ♦ Note H. 



35 

1765, John Fry, Timothy Richardson, and Benj. Woodbury, bore 
names which have descended in other representatives of their 
blood through the records of a century, and which still live in 
honor and respect among you. The limitations of my address 
will only permit an allusion to the first of these. 

John Fry, a lineal descendant in the 5th generation of one who 
came from England and settled in this country, moved from Sut- 
ton to Royalston and resided on yonder eminence. He was 
called here the Esquire, but he brought with him a distinction of 
arms. I have had placed at my use by one of his kinsmen the 
original commission under the king which he received as first 
Lieutenant from Gov. Shirley in 1745, and under which he fought 
before Louisburg and entered the fort to the music of the same 
drums which thirty years later beat still better sounds at Bunker 
Hill. Ten years afterwards he bore royal commission as 
Captain for service at Crown Point. He was past the time for 
military activity when the Revolution opened, and was obliged 
to suppress his soldierly instincts in the home life of a good 
deacon and model citixen. He lived here nearly fifty years, 
and died at ninety -six. 

As 1 look over the memoranda concerning those men of the 
last century which have been gathered trom traditions and 
placed in my hands, my admiration is excited for their endur- 
ance and their whole character. It was the best of stock with 
which to build up a town. I have also been impressed by the 
uniform fact of their remarkable longevity which attests the 
purij;y and contentment of their lives. For small gains, but 
many large and virtuous rewards, they struggled manfully in 
the infancy of American civilization ; they drove out wild 



36 

beasts and subdued the wilderness ;* they opened the paths to 
a better condition for those who came after them, to more 
comfortable homes and a larger affluence ; worn out at last they 
lay down to their rest in the track their own hands had made, 
and they left to the present generation a heritage of works in 
which all ages may discern the beauty and the strength of Re- 
ligion, Subordination, and Patriotism. 

Aided by the munificence of Col. Royall the proprietors erected 
the first meeting house in 1704 near the centre of this public 
ground.t 

It was left in a rude state of unfinished interior and without 
pews. Upon one side of the broad aisle were seated the males 
and upon the other the females, as was then usual in country 
houses of worship, which custom appears to have continued dur- 
ing a period of nearly forty years. There being no distinctive seats 
assigned to the singers, the tuning-fork and deaconing off by lines 
came to the rescue of church harmony. Thirty-three years af- 
ter, in 1797, the old house was removed, and another more 
commodious took its place. This remained with some altera- 
tions till it was destroyed by fire in 1851 when the present ap- 
propriate edifice was reared. These changes have been very 
marked and the contrast is striking. I can conceive that if 
John Fry, Timothy Richardson, and Benjamin Woodbury were 
to come back in the flesh and be ushered along the present 
aisles and by darkened windows, to carpeted slips and cushioned 
seats, and this new organ| of yours were to practice upon their 
ears the imitation of a few of its flutes and its fiddles, and 

— * Note I. 
— t Note J. 
—X Note.— The gift of Mrs. Einlly BuUock Ripley to the First Congregational Society. 



37 

should wind up with a swell or two of the grand diapason, they 
would call upon their leader of 1765 to draw the sword which 
he flashed at Crown Point, and to_ drive out of the house a con- 
gregation of worshippers who could tolerate such innovations. 
But we must remember that each age has its standard, and that 
in nothing else do men become so sacredly attached to their cus- 
tom as in matters relating to Christian worship. 

I have spoken of the first condition imposed by the proprie- 
tors upon the landholders, that they should support a minister. 
During the first three years of incorporation, the temporary ser- 
vices of several clergymen were secured, but it is not important 
to recite their names. At length, in April, 1768, the town ex- 
tended a call to the Rev. Joseph Lee to settle. You will bear 
in mind that this was then what has been since termed by the 
Courts a poll-parish, the town and the religious society blending 
under the law. He was offered for settlement £400 " old ten- 
or," in addition to the 231 acres granted by the proprietors for 
the first settled minister, and in lawful money a salary of £46, 
13s., 4d., per annum for the first three years, X53, 6s., 8d., per 
annum for tlie next three years, and £60 each year thereafter, 
and thirty cords of wood to be drawn annually from his own 
laud to his door. 

The church of sixteen persons had been formall}' organised 
two years before. The call was accepted and tlie pastoral 
ofiice was filled by ordination Oct. 19th, 1768. His life, his 
services, his eulogy are in the dim letters upon that familiar tablet- 
stone in the neglected grave yard, which time will soon render 
illegible, unless you shall chisel them or color them anew. 



38 

Mr Lee was born in Concord, May 12th, 1752. graduated at 
Harvard college in 1765, and died here February 16th, 1819. 
He preached to this people fifty years and his half century ser- 
mon was his last. I count it the most fortunate of all the events 
of your history that a man of good qualities by nature, and of 
university education took his lot with the early settlers and di- 
rected the conscience and judgment of the first two generations of 
the town. To the steadiness and unity of the influences of that 
long and patient pastorate I ascribe largely the exemption from 
violent tendencies which has marked this community, — the unin- 
terrupted, straight forward, placid career of Royalston. The 
exhortations to the society for peace and harmony, contained in 
the concluding passages of the half century discourse, were 
simply the expression in language of his own half century of 
pastoral and benignant life. 

His spare form, in the style of the old school, emerging through 
that garden gate year in and year out with scrupulous punctual- 
ity to the church service, wearing authority meekly, yet as con- 
sciousl}' as one of the oriental fathers, — his eccentricities, in- 
capable of disguise, but so repressed as not to detract from his 
influence — his genial participation in the rural sociability of that 
period of simplicity, — his scholarly culture, not the most exten- 
sive, but held at good command and use, — his humor, offset by 
his gravity ; — his tact flexibility at not passing the bounds of his 
sincerity; — these are only the outlines of the picture which 
brings before us the parson of one half of your entire historic ex- 
istence. I regret that my personal memory does not extend 
back to the time of his death ; but it is my pleasure to speak 
words of tribute to his memory. If each generation of men in 



39 

New England could have forty such men as Lee in Royalston, 
Estabrook in Athol, and Sabin in Fitzwilliam, the towns and 
the churches would live in perpetual peace. 

The order of topics, rather than of chronology, demands the 
completion of my notice of this society. Three months before 
his death, being then seventy.six years old, feeble and infirm, 
Mr. Lee turned his attention to the thought of a colleague and 
successor. On the last day of November, 1818, he called his 
church around him, in his long accustomed chair, under his own 
roof. A day of public fasting and prayer was appointed in 
which the congregation united in December, when those two 
brothers of peace, Sabin and Estabrook, conducted the services ; 
immediately after which the church made unanimous choice of 
Ebenezer Perkins as associate pastor. The invitation was ac- 
cepted by the young divine, and the Council for ordination as- 
sembled on the 17th day of February, 1819, at the house of Jo- 
seph Estabrook, which, according to the stability of things here, 
I am happy to say, is still the residence of son. The venerable 
senior pastor had expired only a few hours before, and his 
closed lips spoke in the eloquence of silence the most impressive 
lesson of that day. 

Mr. Perkins continued as pastor twenty-eight years, when, 
chiefly for reasons arising from the state of his health, he re- 
quested dismissal. He retained the respect and confidence 
of the whole town throughout his life, and died in this 
town of his adoption and love. My earliest recollection of 
church-going are associated with his fine personal form, his full 
voice, his free and dignified delivery, his style of public prayer, 
which for mingled solemnity and facility it has rarely been my 



40 

lot to hear surpassed. He was a native of Essex county, and a 
graduate of Dartmouth College. Gravity of demeanor was his 
rule of public appearance, but as I knew him in private he was 
one of the most social and agreeable of gentlemen. He came 
here a mere youth, to succeed one who left behind the venera- 
tion belonging to an official life of half a century, and it is but 
justice to his memory to say that not one out of a thousand men 
would have succeeded so well and left a better record in the 
town. 

The third minister, Norman Hazen, was settled in June, 1847, 
— a young man of superior education, but of a slender body la- 
boring under disease. At the end of live years his ministry 

. terminated with his life. I knew him somewhat, and can freely 
say that his term here seemed a constant triumph of the spiritu- 

. al over the mortal. The appeal of his life was a continued 
pathos, and the pathos of his death was greater. 

His successor, Ebenezer W. Bullard, was installed September 
2d, 1852, and still remains. May he, like his predecessors, 
abide among you until his death. But I am not to speak of the 
living to day. 

And yet a word more to tlie first Congregational Soci- 
ety. One of its late members, no loner among the living,* 
who, after the struggle and poverty of his }outh, worshipped 
with you in peace for nearly fifty years to the day of his death, 
four weeks before he died, subscribed to a legacy to this parish, 
which I must be pardoned for calling liberal. In% sympathy 
with the spirit of James Otis and Isaac Royall he conditioned 
his bequest upon the continued support of the gospel ministry. 
I may be permitted to believe that the spirit of the testator will 

— * The laio Hon. Rufus Bullock. ?ce also Note K. 



41 

abide with the society, — ^that in nothing niggardly, or reluctant, 
or regretful, the large and competent Parish will carry out wisely 
and liberally the policy of the early proprietors and the recent 
benefactor. Seed-time and harvest without failui^e come and go 
with the years ; and they will be most prosperous, most happy, 
who pull wide the purse-strings in the presence of the ordinan- 
ces of the Lord. 

When Mr. Lee came into the town the Baptists must have 
numbered nearly one fourth part of the inhabitants ; — ten of 
forty-two families, as he informs us. They organized a church 
in 1768, two years later than the other, and built between 1774 
and 1784 a house of worship on the west bank of the Tully. 
You will consider that these people had no Boston proprietors 
to aid them but relied upon their own limited resources and 
large faith. The manner of their proceeding at that time, so 
simple, so earnest, so singular, quite wins upon one who will 
examine their records. In all the time from that day they 
appear to liave settled about twelve pastors, of whom the first 
was Whitman Jacobs, who continued some eighteen years or 
more so far as I can learn, and who in my apprehension kit 
here many of those marked and decisive influences which con- 
trol a local history. He died in this town in 1801. Two of 
these pastors, Moses Kenney and Isaac Kenncy, brothers, died 
only a little more than a year apart, and were followed to a 
common sleep " amid the pines under the hill." With one of 
the later ministers of that church, Mr. Silas Kenney, who labor- 
ed with success through many years, it was my fortune to serve 
in the Legislature of the State, where I found him to be the 
worthy and sound representative of this town. 



42 

During the intervals between the pastorates they never gave 
up religious service. There is something of the simplicity of 
the oriental time in the way they kept their cause alive. They 
had the custom, which, it has always seemed to me, must be 
greatly attractive in the early age of a republican church, of al- 
lowing men not ordained to conduct their exercises, if they pos- 
sessed the gift. Such was the first man who ministered to them. 
Thus " the bretlu-en by appointment met together to converse 
with Bro. Rich's improvement among us, and being satisfied 
that he had a gift to preach the gospel, we desired him still to 
improve his gift with us." Similar passages appear in their rec- 
ords which have the charm of this novelty, and of uuaflected de- 
votion to the christian mission. 

After 1800 their old tabernacle disappeared and under the 
auspices of a union of the Baptists of Royalston and Warwick 
a large new house was erected near the line between the two 
towns, which was dedicated in 1805. I suspect that they had 
sons of thunder in those days, for we are told that upon the 
occasion of the raising of this meeting-house the prayer of El- 
der Hodge was heard at the distance of half a mile. This 
building was condemned in 1847, and rebuilt, and rededicated 
a mile eastward at a place called " the city." 

My brief tribute to the heroic virtues of this class of our 
people would be imperfect if I were to neglect to render justice 
to their peaceful disposition. They were large in numbers and 
of meagre worldly fortune, but without anything of that ill-con- 
ceived jealousy which such contrasts are apt to engender. Ac- 
cordingly their relations with the town and with the first parish 
over the period of a century, have been conciliatory, honorable 



43 

and generous. Not another town is known to me in which the 
relations of the citizens and the churches have been for an hun- 
dred years without interruption so harmonious and felicitous. 
May the next ten decades witness the same happiness of concil- 
iation, and welcome the generations to even a larger glory in the 
heavens. 

In 1837 a second Congregational church was organized at 
South Royalston, in a large degree by amicable dismissals from 
the first. 

The quite rapid modern growth of that village under the stim- 
ulation of its water power on Miller's river had rendered essen- 
tial better local conveniences for religious fellowship and worship. 
And now again the dying counsels of father Lee, the counsels 
of peace, ruled the hour ; and the first parish with Mr. Perkins, 
its pastor, co-operated heartily in this enterprise. The next year 
Samuel H. Peckham was settled as the first pastor ; Neeland, 
Goodyear and others have followed, the church and society have 
prospered, and under the probable future of the town this will 
continue only a secondary institution of ecclesiastical and civil 
power among the influences that shall make up the destiny of 
the days of your municipality. The Society has a large and 
elegant house of worship. 

In the same village there is a Methodist society and meet- 
ing house, the first in the town. Some preparatory preaching 
for this dates back to 1827, but the church was not organized 
until 1842, since which time it has been for the most part con- 
tinued. I hear of nothing but kindly feelings between the two 
societies in that section. Neither quarrelsome persons nor 
quarrelsome churches can have a residence in this town. Joseph 



44 

Lee settled that matter a great while ago for his own day, and 
for many generations after him. 

There was at one time a TJniversalist Society, and what was 
called a Free Donation Society, which were respectable in num- 
bers and worshipped in school-houses, I have not been able to 
find their records ; but I judge that when, some thirty-three years 
ago, the third article of the Bill of Rights was so changed as to 
invest every citizen with the right to contribute to any religious 
society, or to none at all, according to his volition, this class of 
organizations disappeared from the town and have left no rec- 
ord behind. 

A Union Society, so called, was organized here in 1839, out 
of a branch of the Baptist Church in the west and some Uni- 
versalists of Athol. They erected a good looking meeting-house 
at the southeast corner of these public grounds, where the two 
denominations alternately controlled the service. That was an 
almormal condition of things which could not possildy endure. 
And so the Baptists at length bought out the property and for 
some years kept up a church quite large in its numbers, having 
at one time one hundred and twenty members. But this enter- 
prise was against the public want, accordingly stopped run- 
ning in 1854, and in 1863 they permitted the house to be sold and 
moved away ; — leaving this common training field and church- 
yard of our forefathers just as it began an hundred years ago, 
with one meeting house, whose spire shall always rise to catch 
the first gilding of the rising sun and to scatter over these hills 
and valleys the radiance of one patriotic hope, one christian 
faith, one common destiny. And so this day of the living and the 
next day of the coming shall echo back response and sympathy 



45 

to those who gave us the birth-right and then passed to the ages 
of everlasting rest. 

Among the early and arduous trials of this settlement was the 
construction of roads* for travel. The difficulty was enhanced 
by the wild and broken features of the country and by the loca- 
tion of the sites for habitations. If you reflect that here was a 
wilderness, in which men selected prominent points for houses, 
to which the paths must be made to conform without the skill of 
modern engineering, the blazing of trees supplying their science, 
and that communication and transport must be had among the 
settlers and with the region outside, you apprehend the neces- 
sity and the obstacles which coi^ fronted them. But in the first 
year of the charter they resolutely assailed the wild scene around 
them and with poll bridges and corduroy bottoms made their 
condition respectable. It would be easy to point out the first 
four avenues which in 1765 and 1766 were made to radiate 
from the meeting-house over the hills to the four points of the 
compass. In 1766 the town adopted the state policy, substan- 
tially the same which prevails at this day and which has given 
the highways of Massachusetts a fame in every part of the 
country. Great improvements in this direction have characterized 
the history of this town, which, starting with these four avenues 
in the early days, has now seventy-five or eighty miles of good 
highways paying daily tribute to an advanced civilization. 

In 1768 the first physician, Stephen Batcheller,t established 
himself here. Down to the time of his death, in 1829, at the 
age of eighty-three, he remained here, and illustrated the highest 
style of fidelity to a life of professional honor and duty. Some 

— * Note L. 
-f Note M. '' 



46 

of you can remember him as he rode over these paths in his 
saddle, generally without a girth for greater safety in the acci- 
dents of uncertain bridges and byways, with those traditional 
bags, which were so long recognized as the insignia of his 
profession. He deserves to be cherished in the combined asso- 
ciations of a lengthened and honored citizenship and of those 
solemn and tender services which in nearly a half century of 
practice received the gratitude of the living and took no re- 
proach from the memorials of the dead. 

His son, Stephen Batcheller, Jr., practised here and in all the 
northeastern portions of Massachusetts, nearly as long as he, and 
witli a more widely spread reputation. His education was 
respectable, but his sagacity and instincts were uncommon and 
remarkable. Most eminent practitioners in the state, who met 
him in tlie conventions of the Faculty at Boston and Worcester, 
have told me that his rank was of the highest. Who of us does 
not today recall his portly dimensions, his elastic step, his per- 
ecptions of our ailments, his wit and mirth of conversation which 
palliated the bitterness of the potion lie administered and forced 
convalescence into wholesome jollity ? No physician in the 
county of Worcester ever rode so many miles as he. He prac- 
tised a little after the old style, but ho had grand ideas of com- 
mon sense about sickness and healtli. One such Doctor to a 
generation in a town Ijccomes a far reaching powei' in the issues 
of life and death. 

He was succeeded by Isaac P. Willis, who served here with 
positive skill and science in his profession, with great fa^'Ol• 
among the people of this whole section and died only a few 
years ago to the great grief of all. His successor who has but 



47 

recently moved here, is now in the line of distinguished prede- 
cessors and benefactors, whose example opens before him a good 
beginning. 

Dr. Thomas Richardson practiced here more than twenty 
years, residing in the Northeasterly part of the town. He stud- 
ied for his profession with the late Dr. Carter, (senior,) in Lan- 
caster. A native of Leominster, he came into this town about 
1790, at the age of twenty-four. He had a first-class reputation 
as a physician and a citizen ; his practice was quite large, and 
enabled him to accumulate property. Li the later years of his 
residence here he owned and occupied the Willard Newton 
place, which he still continued to carry on for a considerable 
period after his removal from town. He has been less generally 
known than he would otherwise have been to the present gener- 
ation of Royalston by reason of his having moved to Fitzwilliam 
in 1812, where he became a prominent citizen, and was, for a long 
time, its largest tax-payer ; and once at least its representative 
in the legislature. He had a fine taste and a thorough knowl- 
edge in 4he department of raising horses, in which he stood at 
the head in this section of the country. He died in 1852, aged 
87, ripe in years and crowned with the respect and confidence 
of his fellow citizens. He was the father of the Hon. George 
C. Richardson who resided with us here for many years and 
has since gained a wide reputation as a successful and represen- 
tative Boston merchant. 

The medical gentlemen who have served at South Royalston, 
have received the confidence of the community. My information 
does not enable me to go farther in relation to them. 



48 

No lawyer was ever" settled in this place. The late Mr. Jus- 
tice Strong of Lcorniaster, I believe, once came here on a pro- 
fessional rcconnoisance, but the field not lookino; promising he 
left at an early day. The people of the town have not been 
given to much litigation. Its corner stones were laid in the 
spirit of peace, and the angel of harmony has presided over ev- 
ery stage of the rising and growing structure. 

And now I cannot refrain from felicitating the inhabitants of 
Royalston over a fact which becomes at this point pertinent and 
impressive. As to all the central portion of the town, and by 
far the larger part of its whole population, after the expiration 
of one hundred years, you start on this second century with on- 
ly the fourth clergyman and the fourth physician since the origin. 
This is indeed a striking circumstance. And it has had much to 
do in forming and sustaining the character of the people. Every 
thing, stable, tried, approved and held fast, — nothing fitful, vio- 
lent or rushing, — has entered into the public policy or general 
life, or private action of tliis numicipality among the hills of the 
frontier. From father to son, witiiout tlio intermittent fevers 
which have racked many other communities, familiarity Avith the 
same faces, with the same principles, with the same professional 
and dominating influences, has descended through the years of a 
century and made the very name of Royalston a synonym for 
stability, tranquility and contentment. This is an inheritance 
to you worth your continued care to preserve. 

The patriotic history of the town is in proportion with all its other 
features. Those early settlements were made amid the rumb- 
lings of tlu; approaching Revolution, and your first proprietors 
were among its chief actors. They divided, and Chandler and 



49 

Royal went off to the loyalists. They were better known to 
our forefathers than were Otis and Hancock at that day, for 
Royal they cherished as their benefactor, and Chandler had been 
active and fair in laying out their primeval lands. But 
they subordinated personal gratitude to public patriotism. 

I do not know that there was a single tory among them all. Not 
even theu' poverty opened a door to the seductive blandishments 
of cro^vns and thrones. They had those among them who had 
borne the commission of their king and who had fought for his 
diadem on the line of the ocean and the lake ; but they cast all 
these pleasant memories behind them, waited not to know which 
side should win, and tlrrew themselves, their town, their all into 
the breach with the struggling colonists for independence. 

Through the town records of the Revolutionary period I find 
loosel}' scattered and poorly preserved sufficient proof of the 
exalted patriotism of those good men. It cannot be necessary 
that their votes and acts should be here set forth in detail. It 
appears that a committee of correspondence with the province 
committee was early chosen; Henry Bond, who lived on the 
Jonas Bartlett place, was sent delegate to the first Provincial 
Congress in 1774, and Nahum Green to the second in 1775; in 
1776 a committee of safety was appointed and for five years 
thereafter this committee was as regularly chosen as the legal 
town officers ; in the same year the town deeply interested itself 
in the question of a State Constitution, which, having been framed 
at length but imperfectly, received the negative vote of this 
people and an able argument against it from the pen of Mr. 
Lee* : frequently were the doings of the Continental Congress 

— * Noie N. 



50 

at Philadelphia read and approved in open meeting here ; .£90 
for bounties were raised in 1778 and the selectmen were in- 
structed to collect clothing and ammunition for the soldiers ', in 
1779 no family of its own soldiers was found to be needy, and 
so £42 were voted to each of its citizens engaged in the service 
two years before ; Sylvanus Heminway was chosen the same 
year to the convention to form a second constitution and the 
work of instructing him was delegated to a committee of which 
Mr. Lee was the head ; and again in the same year, as a part of 
the war system and war strength, the people co-operated with 
the Concord convention to fix the prices of commodities and to 
diminish the mischief of a depreciated currency*; in 1780 large 
sums were raised to buy beef and clothing for the army. And 
now the old finance was failing and the necessity came of hiring 
the soldier and paying the clothing and the beef in hard money 
only, and in 1781 you tind the fathers, few and poor as they 

were, raising more than a thousand pounds in Spanish milled 
dollars for the hire of soldiers, and Voting in addition to each 
man in the field at the end of three years, ''ten cows, — heifers 
three years old with calf, or with calves by their side." Point 
me in a young, poor town to a more liberal patriotism than that. 
During all this time the first settlers were continually going 
themselves into the service, the last two men marching off in 
1 782, There was no call Irom Philadelphia to which they did not 
respond, uor a (Irinn-boat heard from Bunker Hill, or Saratoga, 
or Bennington, with whicli their hearts did not keep music. — 
When Burgoyne in the North spread abroad such terror the 

— * Note O. 



51 

men of this town and of all northern Worcester rose to arms 
and marched forth for the encomiter. All this occurred when 
more than half these acres were covered with the original for- 
ests, when the settlements were in their infancy, when the cur- 
rency was perplexing all the relations of life, and when Royals- 
ton had only between six hundred and seven hundred inhabi- 
tants. Other and older and richer towns did more, but I hum- 
bly submit that none did better than this. 

It is a source of increasing regret that the records of the 
town in its primitive period have only partially preserved the 
names of their Revolutionary soldiers. From the books, imper- 
fectly kept as they were, I derive the names of Nahum Green, 
Samuel Barton, Squier Davis, John Whittemore, Nathaniel Ja- 
cobs, Timothy Armstrong, Michael French, Roger Chase, Moses 
Walker, Joel Stockwell, Eliphalet Richardson, B. Woodbury, 
Eleazer Burbank, Bezaleel Barton, Isaac Nichols, and Silas Cut- 
tiug. Others theie were, many and as good, but their names 
have not been saved. The last named of these was one of the 
first six settlers of the town in 1762, and died in the military 
service of the war. But the remainder of them had come here 
a little later than 1762, in the shoal or drift of settlers who 
floated in this direction so rapidly from the Southern towns. 
One of them, Nahum Grreeu, was the delegate to the second 
Provincial Congress of Massachusetts in February, 1775. He 
appears to have gone from that Congress into the first army 
gathered for Independence at Charlestown, and was probably en- 
gaged in the battle of Bunker Hill ; he returned here in July 
and died of the small pox, which he had contracted while in the 



52 

service. This first martyr which Royalston contributed to the 
Revolution, was privately buried near his own home about a mile 
southerly of this spot, and the soldiers resting place can now 
barely be identified by the remaining cobbles that make his head- 
stone. Cannot this town afford by some simple, appropriate 
and enduring memorial, to rescue from oblivion the gory bed 
of the aboriginal patriot whose name yet survives without a 
tablet the scene of the first mortal sacrifice offered in her behalf 
to the immortality of the American Union ? Pardon me for 
asking you to think of this and to act either by private subscrip- 
tion or in open town meeting. Another of them, Nathaniel Ja- 
cobs, as it appears, unintentionally, in the quaint language of 
the papers in your chest, "did a tower of duty in Rhode Island." 
All of these, and many others whose names are lost to our sight, 
struggled throughout the conflict, and some died in the battles, 
that they might write the honor of their young municipality up- 
on the shining bosses of the Republic of the world in the West. 
And I am proud to be able to stand before you and to say that of 
all who enlisted into that service from this town not one, not 
one, was ever recorded as a deserter. We meet to day upon 
their ancient training ground to render ascriptive gratitude for 
the honor of their robust virtues, for the example of their mar- 
vellous sacrifices, for the fame of their glorious death. Let us 
in our day cherish the memories of our ancestors in that war, 
and transmit every syllable of their names encircled with rever- 
ence to the last posterity.* 

At the close of the Revolution our forefathers initiated the 
wise policy of equity in averaging the great cost of the war upon the 
— * Note p. 



53 

whole population. You have within the present year adopted 
the principle which they inaugurated and have averaged the cost 
of the late Rebellion in the same manner. This was public jus- 
tice then, and it- is public justice now. Many other towns at- 
tempted the same thing at that time, and abandoned it ; but here 
it was carried out successfully. I find that Captain John Fay, 
ot Louisburg and Crown Point memory, was of the committee 
appointed to make such an adjustment that all soldiers should 
receive a proportionate compensation for their services, whether 
longer or shorter, and '^ that the cost of the war might fall in 
just proportion upon the property of the town."* So scrupu- 
lously just and exact were these men, that persons who had 
moved into town after the war had began were only assessed 
their proportion according to the time of their arrival. And 
thus the early possessors of these fields added to their sublime 
heroism under arms the radiant grace of Christian justice and 
equality under the bowers of peace. At the close of seven 
years of blazing conflict, and when the glare of war subsided, 
they rolumined their forest homes with the celestial light they 
had caught from the Gospel. 

Justice to the inhabitants and to the truth of history requires 
an allusion to the relations which this town bore with the Shays' 
insurrection. It will be remembered that after the close of the 
war, in the midst of the sufferings which ensued from the dilapi- 
dation of the currency, Massachusetts manifested her fidelity to 
the confederation and her own character by adopting a manly 
and large policy of taxation. In some parts of the State, where 
the resources of the people were straitened, this necessity and sya- 

-r-* Note Q, 



54 

tern of taxation was severely but unavoidably felt. The aggrav- 
ations of suits and of executions issuing from the courts under 
the rigors of the old law practice, undoubtedly contributed addi- 
tional provocation to the general discontent. Shays' rebellion 
in 1786 and 1787 was the consequence. It had a large support 
in the county of Worcester, and more especially in the northern 
towns. It is not necessary at this day to discuss the question 
how far that public situation should be pleaded in mitigation of 
the judgment of history ; for no man in his senses now justifies 
that rebellion. It is clear, however, that a somewhat tolerant 
judgment was pronounced by the men of that time. A sufficient 
illustration of this may be found in the fact that to the Massa- 
chusetts Convention which assembled for the ratification of the 
Constitution of the United States, and which was held shortly 
after the dispersion of Shays' forces, there were sent from the 
county of Worcester a very large number of delegates who had 
been avowed and active insurgents. The adoption of the fed- 
eral constitution in the state convention was only cai-ried by a 
majority of nineteen votes, the delegation of our own county 
alone casting a large preponderance of votes against it ; so large 
that if it had depended upon this ancient and historical Worces- 
ter, the constitution of glory and felicity to the millions past and 
to come in America, would have been refused by this colony, 
and, as I believe, would then have been rejected also by New 
York, and would have been lost forever, with what disastrous 
consequences to the races here and over the globe, it is not 
worth while now to speculate. After a somewhat careful study 
of the action of the county of Worcester, it is my conviction that 



55 

the demoralization of Shays' rebellion was connected with her 
course in relation to the constitution ; and it is a compensation, 
which goes far to relieve our present regret, to know that the 
poison of insubordination was checked before it became fatal. 
Kindly and justly may we drop the veil of oblivion over this ex- 
ceptional chapter, since her record in the Revolution and in the 
recent war with treason is affluent and sublime with self-sacrifice 
and heroic deeds, of which the memory and the honor shall be 
immortal. 

This town of Royalston was bordered on the southerly outline 
by a population which shared to a considerable extent in the 
sympathies of the movements of Shays. I should judge from its 
contiguites, as I also infer from slight and inexplicit entiies in 
its records, that a large number of its own citizens accorded 
with the opinons prevaling in the adjacent communities. But af- 
ter diligent search it has not happened to me to discern any evi- 
dence whatever, that a single man here joined bodily with the 
insurgents, or ever took up arms against his country or his 
couutry-men. Such is undoubtedly the fact of our local history. 
You know that the last bubble of Shays' burst in the midst of a 
January snow-storm, a little south of us, at Petersham, when his 
wretched adherents broke and scattered before the law through 
ail this northern section. Some of their frightened numbers 
passed up along the vqriley of the Tully through West Royalston 
to the frontier of the state. I know from what I heard in my 
boyhood, that in their forlorn and panic-stricken passage through 
that section of the town they recx'ived the Christian hospitalitv 
of warm hearth-stones, and that only ; of all which, for the sake of 
our common Immanity, we ouglit not now greatly to complain. 



56 

This, truthfully told according to all the knowledge I have been 
able to acquire, is the part of your ancestors in a rebellion which 
rose and disappeared like a dream. 

(3ur patriotic journal is as continuous as it is creditable. In 
the war with Great Britain in 1812 — 15, our fathers were alike 
''Federal" in politics and steadfast in their patriotism. They 
believed throughout in the policy of Hamilton, and Ames, and 
Strong, but they never stood away from the national colors. 
Accordingly they sent a line, large company of Grenadiers for 
coast defence to Boston, under circumstances of departure 
which made the scene to be remembered as pathetic and impres- 
sive. Those men all returned without a casualty and nearly one 
half of their number live to day to celebrate their federal and 
bloodless campaign. Other citizens of the town, however, went 
oiit into the active service and mingled in the engagements of 
that war on distant fields.* f 

In the late war with the Rebt-llion the conduct of this town 
has been such as I am proud to record. Her people stood early 
and constant by the goverment, and by the principle of universal 
liberty. In the defence of them they have strained every energy 
under circunstances of embarrassment not shared by many other 
sections of the state. The opening conflict found the place con- 
siderably exhausted of its young men, whom niore exciting fields 
of enterprise had drawn away from thetl" hill-sides, and the sec- 
ond year of the struggle gTcatly increased that exhaustion. But 
still upwai-d and onward to the last victories our people answer- 
ed to the calls of the country, tilled their quotas and never fell 
below the example of their Revolutionary sires. Several of the 

— *Note R. ■ 



57 

native-born sons of Royalston have been promoted as general of- 
ficers to high commands in the national army. When I consid- 
er that the population has been declining within the last decade, 
and that this decline represents chiefly the departure of those 
who are within the age of military requisition, I confess my sur- 
prise and admiration over the roll of those who have borne the 
name of our birth-place on the many fields of this war. The great 
cost to the manhood of the Union in defence of its life becomes 
solemn to our senses when we examine in detail the account of 
the several towns of Massachusetts. From this little community 
alone one hundred and ten men have enlisted in the sublime 
work of saving their country by arms. Of this enlistment an un- 
common proportion have fallen to their last sleep. In the dead- 
ly night-shades of Carolina, in the early battles which cheered 
every loyal heart by the tidings wafted from Roanoke and New- 
born, in the conflict with an armed foe and with a more fatal cli- 
mate on the lower Mississippi, in the terrible and unavailing 
slaughter at Drury's Blufi"and Cold Harbor, on guard and in the 
trenches and along the blazing lines whenever and wherever 
they were called, in Libby, which is yet unavenged, in the stock- 
ade of Andersonville, from which the voices of thirty thou- 
sand Union boys, starved, tortured, murdered, now break the si- 
lence of death in a chorus-cry for justice. The soldiers of Roy- 
alston have lifted their souls to the contemplation of duty and 
to the heights of courage, have offered up their lives to the sud- 
den death of the field, and the slow death of the prison, and 
have perpetuated the name of the town which enrolled them in 
annals of immortal lustre. So long as we and our children 
shall enjoy the blessings of Union which they died to save, and 



58 

shall bless the Ciod of our ancestors for sealing with their sacri- 
fices the freedom of all races in America, their names shall be 
cherished by us and shall descend to everlasting remembrance. 
Let those names, every one of them, be attached to this com- 
memorative address, and be engrossed in your official records 
for endurance till these hills shall melt away. Ye gallant survi- 
vors, welcome to day ! Ye gallant dead, hail and farewell !* 

Public action here in relation to the interests of Educationf 
has been so like that of other Massachusetts towns that the 
meagre record scarcely requires transcribing or analyzing. 
Popular education, in this class of municipal corporations remote 
from the sea-board, was of necessity considerably neglected 
until the close of the Revolutionary war. Subsistence for natu- 
ral life takes precedence of intellectual culture. And yet, at the 
first beginning the thought of "schooling" cropped out among 
the demonstrative movements of the settlers. A glimmer of it 
appeared in 1769, when three pounds were appropriated to this 
object. The first school-house was erected on the North East- 
erly line of this public common, not by general taxation, but by 
a vote of the town authorizing individuals to make such use of 
its land. The hand of Joseph Lee, graduate of Harvard College, 
appears evident in this first offical act for the cause of tiie 
modern age. After the close of the war. in 1786, the lot of 
land which had been set apart for schools by the first proprie- 
tors, and which had been leased out down to that day, was sold, 
and the proceeds of that sale are the foundation of your present 
school fund. In 1790 the first school committee was chosen. In 
1791 arailitai-y nomenclature for schools was superceded by a better. 

-*No te 8. 
— tNote T. 



59 

and the division of the town into educational "squadrons" was 
exchanged for a distribution into school "Districts." In 1792 
for the first time a special town meeting was called and held for 
the purpose of adapting the high business of schooling to the 
established laws and policy of the Commonwealth. Then were 
commenced the signal measures for educating the rising genera- 
tion of an augmented population to the future exigencies of a 
sovereign Commonwealth and of the newly established American 
gorvernmeut. In 1798 the town first voted to erect school- 
houses in the several districts, out of which vote have risen the more 
commodious temples of the present day within which are en- 
shrined the best hopes of our earthly strength and our eternal life. 
The progress of years has brought with it the progress of en- 
larged ideas and of enlarged expenditures for education until 
now, in addition to the old school fund whose increments have 
swelled the principal to the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, and in 
addition to the special fund of five thousand dollars bequeathed 
for tliis purpose by the late Rufus Bullock, the town votes re- 
spectable annual appropriations which, let us believe, are to be 
still further increased till the youth born and reared here shall 
be attracted by moral incitements to remain and abide to adorn 
the homes of their fathers with the glories of a more elevated 
social life. 

Of the teachers of schools in this place, many of whom 
afterwards became eminent on other fields of life, my personal 
recollection selects Mr. Thomas J. Lee, sou of that first revered 
minister and author of the spelling book which was used in my 
childhood. Over the interval of forty years his spare form, his 
gentle manners, his suavity, his dignity, rise before me and com- 



60 

mand the respect of memory, as then they commanded the obedi- 
ent veneration of a child. 

Providence has not brought our growth to this day exempt 
from the mortal lot of occasional years of silent and solemn 
drama. Even here, where salubrity is the normal rule, death at 
times has held the high carnival. In 1772, ten years after the 
first settlement, the population was almost literally decimated 
by the death of fifty-two persons in the sweep of one of the epi- 
demics which have not been uncommon in New England. In 
1795 a throat disease, and other sicknesses, carried away eighty- 
six souls from the habitations of the living, — whole groups of 
children from the same roof, — six persons passing through the 
swelling flood in a single day. The like of this, however, has 
been witnessed elsewhere, and our dispensations have not dis- 
tinguished us from the providences of God in other localities. 
And yet for those exceptional days of mourning and of darkness 
the many other years have brought the grand avei'agc ol" theii* 
compensation. In the long duration of time the heavens and 
the earth are in your favor. Here the skies are always northern, 
and the constellations through the marches of the night shine 
brightly, and the elastic air from the mountains beyond contin- 
ually alights at your doors and windows to whisper to the arm- 
chair and bed-side within the patriarchal assurance of longevity. 
Nothing better outside of Newport, Rhode Island, where it has 
seemed to me that every body lives to be old, has crossed my 
reading. One of your committee has placed in my hands a list 
of the preserved names of ninety-four individuals who have 
deceased here above the age of eighty and below the age of one- 
hundred and five* years of life. And this is only a part of them 

— *Note U. 



61 

all. I ought to add that the only one who reached this last named 
ultimatum was good old Mrs. Susannah Carpenter, whose kins- 
women live among you to day, — who was so far back of your 
forefathers that it was her son who came here as one of the early 
settlers, whose lot she followed into this hopeful wilderness, — 
who in the blindness of old age was carried by her lively grand- 
children out to tea among the neighbors, that always invited her 
to bring with her the tea-set which she had inherited from her 
first husband, a sailor, — and the best of china it was, as also the 
first in the to\vn, relics of which are still preserved by her 
descendants. Old age in Royalston is as natural as it is scrip- 
tural. You, Reverend pastors, may safely preach it among the 
promises, — only not forgetting to recommend the kind of living 
that leads to it. 

My recollections of this town, going back thirty, forty years, 
draw before me its scenes of life, action, and responsibility as 
when quite young 1 witnessed them i)i the hands of the generation 
then moving on the stage. Here was then in the true sense a 
rural life. The water power on Miller's river and the other 
streams had not to a great extent been improved for the various 
aianufactures which now so largely supply and stimulate your 
resources. A simple, prosperous, contented agi'iculture for the 
most part engaged the people. The hand loom was in many a 
household, and under the a;olian cadence of the spinning wheel 
1 remember myself to have passed in early evenuig to the sweet 
sleep of childhood. The arrival from Boston, seventy miles, of 
the teams of Piper and the two Pierces, afterwards kept up by 
Whitney, and the unlading of theii' freight at the store doors of 
Estabrook and Bullock and Gregory, imparted incident and ex- 



62 

citement for the public curiosity. The exchange between this 
afrriculture and the trad<; of the sea-board was regular and whole- 
some. 1 am bound to allow that the March-meetings in those 
days were a little jolly, but there mayhave been some virtues to atone 
which were more predominant then, than they are now. Once a 
week our portly fellow citizen of that time, Jonathan Pierce drove 
the post and carried the mail between Worcester and Keene 
through Royalston, bringing to us the weekly papers, the regular 
politics, the more distant gossip, and helping us along generally 
in our conformity with the outside world. This mission, com- 
mencing about the year 1 800, he performed nearly a quarter of 
a century ; and happy days they were. 

From this T might easily diverge to speak of the prominent 
men whom I learned so greatly to respect as sources of i-adia- 
ting influence from this central common. The minister, Mr. 
Perkins, of grave yet pleasant memory, — how I remember him, 
in his lori^; floating, summer toga, driving us in at the eight 
o'clock bell on every Saturday evening; Esquire Joseph Esta- 
brook, our first. post-master, our first gentleman, our first senator, 
to my perceptions blending the old and the new school of man- 
ners, who began as a trader and adopted in later years the 
pleasant vocation of agi-azier, having a genius for noble cattle as 
quick and intuitive as Daniel Webster ever possessed, whose 
blood, whether remaining here or transfored in honorablf con- 
nections to other places, honors the parent stock ; f)r. Batch- 
eller, al)Solutely august in his propoitions, always I'iding rapidly 
and smoking as fast, with a short, genial nod and a happy 
word for everybody and especially for the young of both sexes ; 
Maj. Gen. Franklin Gregory, who succeeded to Estabrook on the 



63 

other side of the street, gentleman by nature, taking by instinct 
to the military in which he excelled all others and in that capac- 
ity presided at one of the festive boards in reception of Lafay- 
ette, the most enterprising merchant this town ever had, and in- 
augurating here her largest trade, whose untimely death in 1836 
at 44 was a public loss irreparable ; and one other, who far out- 
lived all these his associates, whom as exemplar of a long, sim- 
ple, successful, and virtuous life, whom as many times your rep- 
resentative, twice your Senator, your delegate to the Constitu- 
tional Conventions of 1820 and 1852, your honored townsman 
in his life time, and benefactor in death, I should proudly de- 
scribe, but that the inheritance of his name forbids ; — these, and oth- 
ers, challenge my memories in this hour and hallow the spot of 
a youthful love. They have all gone, and with most of their day 
and generation they repose in these burial grounds and almost in 
our presence. And so on this occasion the past comes back to 
me in the memorials which are treasured but fractured, leaving 
to me this morning the melancholy pleasure of uniting my 
heart witli the friends that survive. 

The industrial characteristics of the town have changed with 
the exigencies of the age. The water-falls have been reclaimed, 
and the ever varying arts and industries inaugurated by the u&e 
of steam as a praoi.ical agency and by the division of labor have 
come in here as elsewhere and have somewhat transformed that 
which was formerly a rural life. There was ver}^ early in its 
history a quite respectable use of woolen machinery*, which un- 
der the new dispensation of industry has been greatly increased, 
until no small part of the local market for consumption and val- 

— *Note V. 



64 

ues is now found in the wheels, and cogs, and spindles, which 
make South Royalston the central point of active enterprise and 
production. While that busy hive on your Southerly border, 
having the double advantage of the River and the Rail Road, 
must henceforth maintain its supremacy, let us indulge the hope 
that only fraternal relations shall subsist between the sections, 
and that all together will continue for generations to be con- 
tented and united under the patriarchal banner. 

To the agricultural identities of the population I mainly ascribe 
its almost stationary numerical peculiarity. From 1790 to 
1860, a term of seventy years, the number of inhabitants only 
varied from 1,130 to 1,486, from one decade to another some- 
times gaining a little and sometimes losing nearly the same. 
You will observe in the returns of the census perhaps quite 
enough of the evidence of this kind of stability. Those retui'us 
range as follows : 

1790^ I 1800 I 1810 I 1820 | 1830 | 1 840 | 1850 | 1860 
1,130 I i;M3^ j 1,415"" pi7424 [T;493 [ i;667~f 1,546 | 17486 

But this character is not the worst that can ha})pen to a town. 
If it will maintain its virtue, its power and beneficence shall 
rise superior even above the loss of numbers. 

But tliere is a better proof of the mor^J and productive for- 
ces of the residents in the statistics of valuation which are foi - 
warded from the State House ; for they demonstrate that a 
youthful vigor still abides in the ancient town, and that its pro- 
gress is still onward and upward. Study them and take the 
courage of faith and hope. 



65 

1790, £1,622, 6s, 1 l-4d, "] Amount 

1800, $8,656 51 I . 

1810, 10,621 67 f 

1820, 13,480 02 J Income. 

1830, $340,598 00 ^ Valuation 

1840, 433,314 43 I Valuation 

1850, 751,008 00 f of 

1860, 822,257 00 J Estates. 

From these statements it appears that the valuation of the 
p roperty of your population, — and I believe that estates have at 
no time been over-estimated here, — has since 1790, the year of 
the first returns, been constantly and rapidly increasing. In 
twenty years, from 1840 to 1860, it has quite nearly doubled. 
This I regard as most hopeful and encouraging. 

Your annals are not of the prizes of fortune and affluence, 
nor contain they any modern chapter of poverty. Those annals 
tell us of systematic toil, and patriotic struggle, and patient 
endurance, and the christian faith. The economies of industry 
and the riches of the heart are the pride and solace of the rec- 
drd. This town should never be forgotten by her sons where- 
soever they may wander. For myself, as here the first breath 
was drawn, so here the last word should willingly be uttered. 
If the sons and daughters could abandon and forget her in pur- 
suit of more exciting scenes, even in larger numbers than they 
have yet gone, — if the country simplicity of the early days 
should settle down like the clouds of the Province over her 
fields and her farms, my last remembrance should still revert to 
the happy hills and pastures of childhood and I would still ad- 
dress her in the language of mingled encouragement and admo- 
nition, worthy of the poet of the Deserted Village : 



66 

" Aid slighted truth with thy persuasive strain ; 
Teach erring man to spare the rage of gain ; 
Teach him, that towns of native strength possest, 
Though very poor, may still be very blest ; 
That trade's proud empire hastes to swift decay, 
As ocean sweeps the labour'd mole away ; 
While self-dependant power can time defy, 
As rocks resist the billows of the sky." 

Friends and fellow citizens, this imperfect tribute to the qual- 
ities and the labors of our ancestors must be brought to a close. 
At the end of one hundred years, we, their descendants, have 
assembled to contemplate in brief review their lives and achieve- 
ments. I submit it to impartial judgment, that their conduct 
in the early settlement, in the management of the town, in the 
cultivation of the fields, in their relations with the great events 
of the country, in all the duties of church and state, in the salu- 
tary examples which have passed from one generation to andtJi- 
er, — in religion, industry, politics, and daily life, — has been such 
that we may rehearse it with pride and commend it to those who 
shall come after us. This congregation of the living is equalled 
in numbei'S by those who sleep in this town in the quiet enclo- 
sures of the dead.* They speak to us out of their silence and 
repeat the lesson of their lives. As they were bound together 
by the tics of friendship in the primitive period of their trials, 
and have kept the counsels of peace and unity through all the 
stages of this history, so let that spirit control another age and 
the felicities of social life go hand in hand with public stability 
and prosperity. As they adapted themselves to the changing 
— *Note w. 



67 

requisitions of the general industry and economy, so let the tides 
of occupation, as they come and go with you, bear onward a 
community never behind but always advancing. As they never 
failed to uphold the honor of their country by their hearts, by 
their declarations, and by their arms, so let the American Union 
and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts find in this town forev- 
er most constant friends and most gallant defenders. As they 
have transmitted to our keeping the institutions of worship 
and education, by them at all times well endowed and well sup- 
ported, so let the endowments be multiplied and the support be 
enlarged till the bells of the churches and the schools shall 
sound a welcome in every ear. And when, after the passage of 
another century, your successors shall meet over your dust to 
celebrate their day, may it be the happiness of the intervenhig 
generations to have provided for them as little for reproach and 
as much for devout thanksgiving as we ourselves have received 
from our fathers. 



MEMORIALS AND GAELANDS. 



DELIVERED AT THE ROYALSTON CENTENNIAL, AUGUST 23, 1865. 



BY ALBERT BRYANT, A. M. 



He who, led by childhood's memories, to his early home returns. 
Oft will find there naught familiar save the names on funeral 

urns. 
Scenes and faces, loved and longed for, left behind in time's 

swift track, 
Airy nothings are, that vanish, which no pilgrimage brings back^ 
But the hills and streams are constant, for his tears they make 

amends : 
Them he greets with exultation and communes with them as 

friends. 

Old Monadnock I o'er thy summit though the mists forever drift, 
And around thee in the drama fickle scenes and actors shift, 
All the centuries in their process cannot change thy green and 

gray, 
And in morning light resplendent thine our welcome is to-day. 



69 

We have seen, when winter rages, thy cold forehead awe the 

vale, 
Heard the brooks like bells of silver round thy skirts bid spring- 
time hail- 
Welcomed cooling showers of summer when o 'er thee the clouds 

are rolled, 
And rejoiced when Autumn clad thee in her crimson, green and 

gold. 
Count the hundred years, Monadnock, and how many festal 

throngs 
Climb again thy rugged shoulders ! they are silent like their 

songs. 
At thy feet to-day we gather, when the conflict round us rolls. 
Let thy strength with courage gird us and thy patience calm our 

souls ! 

From our western borders — Listen ! and below the vale of mills, 

Noisy water-falls are joining in the welcome of the hills. 

From the gorge beneath the shadows, throned upon the granite 

rocks, 
Shouts to us the Royal Cascade, tossing loose her shining locks. 
" Hail ! to-day, ye sons and daughters of the household ! wel- 
come home ! 
Time has changed you, — thinned your numbers since you left 

my forest dome. 
Centuries bury all the living, fill the valley, bow the hill. 
But they never reach the waters, ever changing, changeless still." 
And the Southern cascades answer, hurrying in their triple fall — 
" Hail ! to-day, ye sons and daughters of the household ! wel- 
come all !" 



70 

Torrents ! back we send your greetings ! hear.our swiftly throng- 
ing feet, 
Like the rush of many waters sounding through the village street. 
From the study, desk, and counter, from the work-shops and the; 

fields, 
This illustrious morning leads us forth to harvests memory yields, 
And these once familiar voices fall like music on our ears, 
While we bind in golden bundles all the old town's hundi'ed 
years. 

Let us break to-day the silence where the ancient forest waves, 
And the choicest garlands scatter on our fathers' fading graves. 
Victors in the dreary woodland, fields and orchards were their 

spoils. 
Now, and ever, green and fruitful by their patience and their toils. 
Their's the hands that set the roof-trees under which your chil- 
dren play, 
Shades they yield that \i\e forever, though the fostering hands 

are clay. 
When your sons go forth with honor from these hills to serve or 

rule, 
Bless the wisdom of the fathers, founders of the village school. 
When o'er vale and hill are swelling the clear tones of Sabbath 

bells. 
Of the churches' pious founders half the sacred music tells ; 
And grey men for little children as they gather at the knee, 
While they tell with tears of gladness, how our glorious land is 

free. 
Backward trace the thrilling story till they reach the crimson 

sod, 



71 

Where old heroes wrote with sword-blades that no lord is king, 

—but God ! 
By the northern lakes and forests where they dared the wintry 

sleet; 
By the Delaware's broad waters where thej^ passed with bleed- 
ing feet ; 
Down the Carolinean river, bound by one red battle plain, 
We again behold them marching, oh ! they have not marched 

in vain. 
Here beneath the forest shadows, though our fathers' ashes sleep, 
Jealous vigils for their children their stern spirits ever keep. 
And from every startled fireside, when the battle call goes by, 
Muster they the sons of freemen forth again to win and die. 

To the grave yard come, below the hill, • 

When the cares of busy day are still. 

And spell from broken stones the names 

That kindled Freedom's holy flames. 

The dewy pines a hundred years. 

Have wet the ancient mounds with tears. 

Though breaking day its splendor weaves 
Along a million pointed leaves, 
Or moon-beams o'er the solemn wood 
At evening draw their shining hood. 
No light, at morn or evening, shines 
Upon the graves beneath the pines. 

When long ago these graves were made. 
No forest roots disturbed the spade, 
Nor shadows on the coffins fell, 



72 

Save such as mourner's tears can tell. 
But since Death called the ground his own, 
These ranks of giant trees have grown. 

The stalk our fathers died to rear, 
As grandly branches far and near, 
Its roots are wrapped about their bones, 
They speak in all its wind-stirred tones, 
Nor shall their graves forgotten be 
'Neath Liberty's immortal tree ! 

To the grave yard, then, below the hill 
Come when the cares of day are still ; 
And trace on living stones the names 
That kindled Freedom's holy flames ; 
The dewy pines, a hundred years, 
Have wet these ancient mounds with tears. 

As old age, its youth recalling, overleaps what lies between, 
So the far off past we honor, honoring most the dimly seen. 
But while lingering with the fathers, whose great acts built up 

the state. 
All the Century's thronging stories for our humble garlands 

wait. 
On this birth-day you remember what has made the old town 

dear, 
And has traced her name the brighter with each fleet, increasing 

year. 
You remember the old School House whore you gathered, long 

ago, 



73 

Spurning with bare feet the hill-side, toiling mufifled through the 

snow; 
The long seats, where little urchins, with their toes stretched 

toward the floor. 
Leaning on the desks their elbows, hummed the lessons o'er and 

o'er. 
The huge fire of logs in winter, thawing all the nearer rows, 
While, beside the airy windows, the tall back seats shook and 

froze. 
The school-masters and their ferules, dreadful to the rogue and 

dunce, 
But with praise and long recesses for the good — as you were 

once. 
Some were full of college wisdom and of frolic free of harm, 
Some taught school in winter only, in the summer tilled the 

farm. 
these masters and their ferules ! they are dust like common 

dust. 
Long ago our tears fell o'er them, they have passed on high we 

trust. 

You remcTuber youths and maidens whose dear voices never tire, 
At the merry singing meetings to instruct the village choir. 
The old leaders with their pitch-pipes, till he woke the viol string, 
Whose memorial is with us — " He taught children how to sing." 

Some the meeting-house remember at the joining of the streets, 
With the Gabriel o'er the pulpit, and square pews with slamming 

seats. 
There our fathers held town meetings in their democratic way, 



74 

And on Sundays, with their households, heard the pastor preach 

and pray. 
Later days brought in new notions ; then arose the modern spire. 
But the clanging bell fell with it, telling tales of midnight fire. 
And when, by the distant farm-house, lay at mora a half baraai 

leaf 
Of the ancient pulpit Bible, all eyes there were wet with grief. 

Grave and solemn was the pastor in his quaint cocked hat and 

gown, 
And at door-ways careful parents, when they saw him riding 

down, 
In the days e'er graceful reverence from New England youth had 

fled. 
Placed their children, with clean faces, to bow low each curly 

head. 
One pale browed and gentle preacher some of us cannot forget, 
On the Sea of Glass now singing, where the wild waves never 

fret. 
To the tree of life he led us, underneath its healing leaves, 
And his farewell smile goes with us till we come with many 

sheaves. 

Could we fix upon the canvas all the throng that jostles past, 
What strange scenes the motley faces of a' hundred years would 

cast! 
By the mourner's tear stained visage, by each heart felt smile or 

frown, 
In the oddest contradiction smirks the buffoon or the clown. 
'Tis the curious and unusual that remain for after times ; 
While the worthiest want a record, we immortalize Old Grimes. 



75 

Full of pranks and jovial fancies which our fathers hardly bore, 
He still walks in fire-side story, in that long, blue coat he wore. 
And beside him wanders, love-lorn, with the ballad's quaint sad 

tones, 
Moving our grandmother's pity, the poor lover, Crazy Jonea. 

" Ho time is a Goblin, and awful the dance 

Whose mazes return not, but always advance, 

Through which his gay partners he gleefully whirls. 
And to bald shrivelled crones turns the fairest of girls." 

So laughed the strange teller of fortunes, Old Nance. 

She dwelt in a valley far over the hill, 

Her two eyes were piercing, her accents were shrill, 

Through her town and our town wandered her fame, 
Till the sage and the simple, and all ages came, 
To learn of the Future : five dimes was the bill. 

One day in December the school master sat 
By her wide chimney corner spell-bound by her chat, 
As she told how a widow with plenty of gold, 
With houses, and acres, and beauties untold, 
Would be his for the asking — with never a brat. 

Now fleeter and fleeter the swift moments flew, 
The chimney was wide, and fierce the wind blew. 

The smoke and the ashes drew out and drew in, 
And the school master fancied the dame was so thin, 
That he saw, for a moment, the fire light shine through. 

The master was eager, the dame's tongue was brisk, 
His fortune grew larger — and lesser the risk, 



76 

Till his locks rose upright and he screamed, to behold 
Old Naucy together like burnt paper rolled, 
And up the vast flue disappear with a whisk. 

By the chimney still stands an empty arm chair, 

To attest that my story is truthful and fair, 

What became of the master I never have known, 
And, for aught I can tell, the merry old crone 

Is completing his fortunes up in the air. 

There are customs of our fathers, pleasant, passing out of mind 
Round which, on this day of memory, we memorial ivy bind. 
How the apple bees in autumn make the farm-house kitchen ring, 
As the merry swains and maidens pare the fruit, and cut, and 

string. 
When the pumpkin pies were eaten, and the cider pitcher drained 
And the girls were home attended, oh ! what troubled dreams 

remained ! 
In the plough-boy's haunted slumbers, came agaiu the bright 

eyed groups, 
With their pans of well strung quarters binding him in long 

damp loops. 

Then the Huskings in October, when the old barn floor appears 
Julnlant with corn in bundles, and the heaps of shining ears. 
O'er the dimly lighted rafters the queer imp of frolic walks, 
And the laughter of the huskers drowns the rustling of the stalks. 

After llarvesting was over, came, and still will come the day, 
When the house is set in order, and the work is laid away ; 
And the old folks at the firesides, in their newest coat and gown, 



77 

Welcome home to spend Thanksgiving, all the children of the 
town. 

Often when the snows were level, and young hearts were free of 

care, 
Came the sleigh rides in the moon-light of the frosty winter air, 
Like the music of the sleigh-bells, to the happy youth who ride. 
Are the voices of the present, loudly, ceaselessly beside. 
Like the music of those sleigh-bells, swelling, dying, gone at last, 
All the years and all their treasures hurry to the voiceless past. 
Yet each year's remembered music, adds new notes to rouse or 

calm. 
And the golden year draws nearer, with the Century's finished 

Psalm, 

Though we see not the world moving, how it Hies beneath the 

sun ; 
By our reckoning — oh ! tkei) count not where the thousand years 

are one. 
K'en the Century leaves behind it deeds of nrogross grandly 

wrought, 
And makes hallowed ground forever of the fields our age has 

fought. 
Our old town has seen the dawning of the glorious latter days. 
Her slain heroes are not silent in tlie earth's wide Hymn of 

Praise. 
But not mint to weave the garland who still hear their well 

kept vows ; 
There are crowns of loftier splendor for their beautiful, de.ar 

brows, 



78 

•Radiant upon the foreheads of a hundred thousand bold, 
On the sea of battle drifted, in the graves of Honor cold. 
And not mine to say " they conquered," ! their victory's rare 

reward, 
Hear the millions they delivered tell the story to the Lord ! 

Our memorial song is ended, our memorial day soon done ; 
Soon amid the falling shadows we and it shall journey on. 
On the troubled sea before us, all our hopes and all our fears, 
We again go down to venture for another hundred years. 
You, sir, at whose potent summons the charmed years before us 

stand. 
Here the call to higher stations in the state and in the land. 
Some will find distinguished places, some will seek a shaded spot ; 
Which they find but little matters so they labor in their lot. 

Farewell mountains, hills and waters, like the vapors ye must 

fade ; 
We shall come again. — one morning,when all history is made. 
We shall see the roll of honor, 'tis for crowns and kingdoms won' 
When the Lord of all the Centuries tells His Little Ones "Well 

done." 






NOTE A— PAGE 21. OUR BIRTHDAY. 

The incorporate life of Royalston began with its charter, Feb- 
uary 16th, 1765. But a Centennial celebration on these hights 
in the depth of winter was not to be thought of. The circum- 
stances indicated a "movable," rather than an " immovable " fes- 
tival. Accordingly, the commemoration of the hundredth anni- 
versary of our Birthday was deferred till August, — a month in 
which elevated localities, mountain air, and green hillsides are 
in request, and near the close of which there is usually an interval 
of comparative leisure, favorable to the entertainment and enjoy- 
ment of friends, and the season more commonly chosen by our 
absent ones for revisiting their old friends and homes. 

NOTE B— PAGES 26 AND 27. TITLES, TERRITORY AND PROPRIETORS. 

The unappropriated lands of the Province were disposed of by 
the General Court, from time to time, either by private Grants, 
or public Sales ; not so much, it would seem, for immediate in- 
come, as for the encouragement of settlement, and to maintain 
a liberal policy toward the citizens. 

Grants were usually made upon petitions, setting forth some 
special public service or hardship. The successful applicant 
located his land in some specified territory, and returned a plat 
thereof, taken by " a Surveyor and Chairman under oath," to the 
Court for confirmation. The Record of these doings, in the 
Secretary's Office, constituted the Title of the grantee. 



80 

Sales were ordered by the General Court, and conducted 
by a special joint committee, instructed as to the terms of the 
■ sale, and empowered to convey the same, giving deeds and 
taking bonds. These conveyances, or indentures, entered with 
the Deeds and Records for the county within which the land was 
situated, constituted the Tide of the purchaser. 

Our territory passed from public to private hands by both of 
these methods ; four private grants having been located and 
confirmed prior to the public sale of the residue, in 1752. This 
sale was conducted by a joint committee, consisting of John 
Chandler, and James Minor of the Council, and Mr. Speaker, 
(Thomas Hubbard,) John Tyng and William Lawrence of the 
House. It took place Dec. 21st, 1752; conveyance was made 
on the 27th; and the indenture was recorded with the Deeds and 
Records for the county of Worcester, Jan. 1st, of the following 
year, in Book 32, pages 123, 124, 125, and 126. An attested 
copy of the document occupies the first pages of a copy of the 
Proprietors' Records in the custody of our Town Clerk. 

And thus we have the Titles of the Ig-nd, whether as held by 
grantees, or purchasers. 

The Territory is ascertained from these Titles ; from whence 
it appears that the four grants comprised 2.300 acres ; and the 
purchase 28.357 acres. The subsequent questions and investi- 
gations, as between the purchasers and the General Court, show 
that these figures were not too high; but rather that they fell 
short of expressing our territory, as it stood when the town was 
incorporated. The excisions and annexations since have some- 
what curtailed the number of our acres, but precisely how much 
can only be determined by surveys based upon the several "Acts" 
by which these changes have been effected. The town valuation 
of 1864, reports 26.882 acres. 

The original Proprietors of these lands can be but imperfectly 
illustrated. 



81 

One " Pierpont and others," held the largest Grant ; but who 
they were, and why they received this Province land, we have 
been unable to ascertain. Their land is laid down on the Flan 
of the Proprietors, [the title of the purchasers as distinguished 
from the grantees,] nearly in the north-east corner of the town? 
as now bounded. It must have nearly, or quite, covered the 
farms of John Wood, Joel and Daniel Taft, Capt. Wm. Chase, 
Joel Howard, Jocob Hale, John Holman, Wm. Withiugton and 
Nathan Reed, — we give the names as laid down on the Map of 
Royalston, taken in 1831. 

Joseph Priest's grant is also laid down distinctly on said Plan, 
immediately east of Pierpont's, and on both sides of the brook 
bearing his name, covering, it would seem the Bemis farms, 
and other small places, north and south of the same. 

The grant next east, and taking up all our territory to Winch- 
endon line, belonged to one Thomas Hapgood of Marlboro. 

The Honorable Secretary of the Commonwealth has furnshed 
a copy of the doings of the General Court, illustrating 
this grant. It was ordered in 1742, in "consideration of services 
in the war with the eastern Indians and his suflferings by reason 
of wounds received from them, whereby in his advanced age he 
was disabled from labor for the support of himself and family." 

Documents from the same source give us the names of the 
grantees, and the date of the grant, situated at the west part of 
the town. This grant was made, Dec. 15th, 1737, to Benoni 
Moore, Joseph Pettey, and Robert Cooper. Before 1765, how. 
ever, it had passed into the hands of Samuel Hunt of Northfield, 
and others. The terms of the grant, as ascertained by Benoni 
Peck, Esq. located the same between what is now Athol. an d the 
Province line — 'to be laid out 480 rods long on the eastern line 
of what is now Warwick, and 200 rods wide from west to east, 
and no more.' He also satisfied himself that the ffrant was 



82 

made in consideration of services, rendered by the grantees, in 
burying the bleached bones of certain sohliers, who, led by Capt. 
Beers, were marcliing from the river below to the assistance of 
Northiicld, but fell into an ambuscade and were slaughtered 
by the Indians. A liill, which Mr. Peck has visited, situated 
near Northfield, still bears the name of the unfortunate Cap- 
tain. 

The names of the jmrchasen, Avere Samuel Watts, Thomas 
Hubbard, (then speaker of the House,) Isaac Freeman, Joseph 
Ri^^hards, Isaac Royal, Caleb Dana, James Otis, Joseph Wilder 
Jr. ai:d John Chandler Jr. The names of Freeman and Rich- 
ards, soon disappear from the Records, and in their place we 
have those of the Honorable Thomas Hancock and John Erving, 
Esq. The former died in 1764, and his nephew, John Hancock, 
whom he educated, and who succeeded to his large fortune and 
extensive mercantile business, became one of the Proprietors. 

Samuel Watts Esq. was of Chelsea, stood at the head of the 
Proprietors, moderated their first meetings, and was active in 
settling this town ; but otherwise we gather nothing respecting 
'him. 

Thomas Hubbard was long a prominent Boston man, often in 
public stations. He was treasurer of the Propriety till his 
death in 1773. 

Isaac Royal, who has given us his name, aided in establishing 
the preached Gospel among us, and who remembered his name- 
sake in his will, is mentioned honorably at pps. 30, 31, of the 
Address. We receivcid our name from him before he contracted 
the taint of Toryism ; and the facts, recited by Mr. Bullock, 
taken in connection with the other faci, that he made provision 
for the law professorship, gave one of his 200 acre lots, 
for the benefit of our schools, together with numerous other lib- 
era! bequests for public purposes in this country, by his last will 
and testament, executed in England, and while under the ban of 



83 

outlawry, may surely justify so far as he is concerned, our con- 
tinued love of our old name. His penitence came too late for 
his comfort ; but it came so strong, and under such circumstances, 
as should redeem his name from too severe reproach. 

Caleb Dana Esq. of Cambridge and Civpt. Joseph Wilder 
of Lancaster were among the working men of the Proprie- 
tors. Their names appear on the committees that had much to 
do, personally, in bringing forward the settlement of the terri- 
tory. At a later period the captain seems to have come hither 
for a wife. We find the following Record among the marriages 
by Rev. Mr. Lee, "Nov. 14th, 1782. Capt. Joseph Wilder of 
Lanca:<ter. and Mrs. Hepzibah Norton were married." 

John Erving Esq. besides his interest in this territory, was a 
large purchaser and proprietor of other public lands ; and, 
like Isaac Royal, he gave his name to a township south-west of 
us. 

Col. John Chandler, was a Worcester man, — the third of the 
same given and surname, who held, in succession, the office of 
Judge of Probate for our County. And a genial Judge he must 
have been, " keeping open doors on court days, and spreading his 
tables for the entertainment of all suitors in his court." Truly, 
if his justice and mercy were equal to his hospitality, the 
widow's heart must have sung for joy under his administration. 
Of him and his ancestry honorable mention is made in the an- 
nals of his early home. Both his and his father's name appear 
in the sale and on the title deed of this town. He, too, in those 
times that tried the souls of men, went with the Tories, left his 
country and was outlawed ; but not till he had planted a seed 
that flowed on in the channels of patriotism. George Bancroft 
(now laboring upon our national history) is his grandson ; ^nd 
the wife of the honored and venerable Ex. Gov. Lincoln, his 
granddaughter. Let his early and better life, and his eminent- 
ly American descendants, veil the grand mistake of his Revolu- 
tionary politics. 



84 

But if it be uii'^rateful to reflect that these two prominent 
Proprietors went with the kin,<^ and parliament against the 
country, it is a matter of satisfaction that two of far greater worth 
stood at the front of the rightful and winning party, — James Otis> 
the fine scholar, distinguished advocate and dauntless patriot, 
a son of flame as well as of thunder, bearing down upon the royal 
cause with fiery rhetoric and resistless argument, and John 
Hancock, early winning from Gov. Gage the opinion, that his 
t' offences against the king were of so flagitious a nature as to 
admit of no other consideration than that of condign punishment." 
an opinion which he also entertained with respect to Samuel 
Adams. 

But the record of such men needs no recital of ours. James 
Otis was the orator of those days. John Hancock did not often 
attempt a speech ; but his weight of character, his wisdom, his 
talents as a business man, and as a presiding and executive 
officer, and the dignity and power of his presence, made him 
great. The first to sign the Declaration of Independence, the 
stroke of his pen impressed upon that immortal document some- 
thing of that nobility and grandeur which belonged both to his 
chaiactor and his life. 

During the Revolution the business of settling this town was 
greatly retai-ded ; and there arc no records of Proprietors' meet- 
ings. Upon the return of more favorable days, the Proprietors 
resumed their labors ; and we find several new names super- 
seding those ol Uic. old. We only recite them. Samuel A. 
Otis, Benjamin Kent, John Ei-ving 3d, William Haskins, Willis 
Hall, Cotton Tufts, and Dr. Samuel Danforth. 

NOTK C— PAGE 29. SCEXEIIY, &C. 

Few towns can boast greater, or more interesting Natural 
Scenery than Royalston. High and rugged hills, noble swells of 
excellent land, and intersecting vallies, make up the general 
contour. Overlooking the surrounding country by its general 
elevation, it has also connnanding eminences from which the eye 



85 

takes in wider sweeps of vision, while it looks down on nearer 
objects of interest, — the clustering hamlets, and isolated farm- 
houses, the orchards, groves and woodlands, the shimmering 
ponds, and the meandering water-courses. From several of 
these eminences both the Monadnock and the Wachusett stand 
out in bold relief. Our horizon is bounded on the east and 
north-east by the high hills in Ashburnham, Rindge and New 
Ipswich, and on the west and north-west b}- the distant Green 
mountain range. Among the points aifording extended and 
beautiful prospects may be mi^ntioiied Fry's hill, north of the 
common, the highlands west of the north road leading to Fitz- 
williaiii. sonietinics called the Baili Bone of Royalston, the south 
pasture on the farm of Mr. John Pierce, overlooking So. Royalston, 
and Jacob's hill, as the road fi-om the centre turns abruptly to 
the north. The view from this last point is very fine. It looks 
out wcstwardly upon Long Pond, TuUy river and another smaller 
stream, both of which come down from the wooded lands to the 
north, and run tortuously through the meadows at your feet into 
Long Pond. In front of you, and beyond the meadows and 
|» )nd, ;he country rises rapid'y, with broken face, to the west and 
north till it meets the line of tlie horizon. It is a lovely land- 
scai)e, whether in S]:u'ing. Summer or Autumn ; but splendid 
when the tints of the latter season are out in their glory ; so 
great is the variety of foliage, so artistic the blending of the 
many hues, and so grand the amphitheater in which the whole is 
displayed. Sometimes, too, when the winter is coronated, and 
copse and woodland pendant with crystal ice, and the sun 
Hashing upon it all, the scene is truly magnificent. 

Of the gorges and waterfalls in Royalston, Professor Hitch- 
cock, in his Geology of Massachusetts, pages 283: 284. writes 
as follows ; — 

" There are at least three waterfalls connected with deep 
gorges in Royalston, that are well worth the attention of those 
who are fond of wild natural scenery. About a mile west of the 



86 

meetinp^-house and center of tho town, is a deep valley running 
north and south, nearly across the town. Near the meeting- 
house is a pond which empties itself into this valley by plunging 
rapidly down a steep declivit}^, which must be 800 or 1000 feet 
high. It then empties into another large pond, or rather a 
remarkable expansion of a small tributary of Miller's river. At 
one part of the descent of the brook above named, it falls at 
least 200 feet by several leaps within a distance of a few rods, 
forming several very beautiful cascades. There the original 
forests have not been disturbed. The trees overhang the mur- 
muring waters, half concealing the stream, while broken trees 
are plunged across it in all directions. 

In the extreme north-west part of the town, on the farm of 
Calvin Forbes, a gorge and cascade exist of still greater interest ; 
one of the finest indeed in the state. The stream is not more 
than 10 feet wide at the spot, but it descends 45 feet at a single 
leap into a large basin, which from its top has been excavated 
by the erosion of the waters. The sides, to the height of 50 or 
60 feet, are formed ot solid rocks ; now retreating and now pro- 
jecting : crowned at the sununit with trees. Many of these lean 
over the gulf, or have fallen across it ; so that uj)on the whole, 
the scene is one of great wildncss and interest. * * * 

It certainly deserves a name ; and until a better one shall be 
proposed, I would suggcjst that of The Roi/al Cascade ; partly in 
reference to the name of the town in which it is situated, and 
partly in reference to its royal character. 

Two miles south of Royalston Center, on the road leading to 
Athol, is another cascade on a larger stream. Its width, indeed, 
must be as much at 25 feet, and its depth considerable. In a 
short distance here the water descends, at several successive leaps, 
as much as 200 feet, between high walls of gneiss and granite. 
Toward the upper part of the descent, several mills are erected ; 
but a small part only of the water power is employed. Below the 
mills the stream passes into the woods ; and toward the lowest 



87 

part of the descent, we get a single view of two falls of about 25 
feet each. * * * There is more of beauty and 
less of wildness at this spot than at the Royal Cascade. This 
stream also has been, and still more extensively can be, applied 
to useful purposes. Perhaps therefore, considering the character 
of our political institutions, and our well known reputation for 
utilitarian tendencies, this, rather in contrast to the Royal cas- 
cade, may be denominated The Republican Cascade. But if I can 
induce persons of taste and leisure to visit it, I care but little 
for the name." 

In the early years, this town had a reputation for the produc- 
tiveness of the soil, and the thrift of its agricultural population. 
A considerable surplus of corn, rye, barley, oats, hay and pota- 
toes, was annually marketed abroad. Fine stock and good 
daries enriched the town and attracted trade. Now, however, 
neither the tillage nor the pastures, taken as a whole, yield as 
aforetimes, though there are still farms that make good crops, and 
pastures that turn out good cattle ; enough to show that the 
fault is not altogether in the soil. In this, as in other towns, 
resolute and intelligent farmers make shining farms, and flourish 
in their honorable occupation. But the popular current is not 
in that direction, and in consequence not a little of our land is 
given over to " saplings." These, especially the pines, make 
rapid growth and are esteemed a good investment. 

Our winters are long and the seasons come forward slowly ; 
but then we are less liable to untimely frosts and severe droughts, 
and often have well matured crops, green fields and abundance 
of good water, while neighboring towns sufier for the want of 
them. 

NOTE E— PAGE 31. THE ACT OF OUTLAWRY. 

This was intitled, "An Act to prevent the return to this State of 
certain persons therein named, and others who have left this 
State, or either of the United States, and joined the enemies 
thereof." 



88 

The Preamble recites a long list of names beginning with 
Thomas Hutchinson Esq. late Gov. of this state, and Francis 
Bernard lately Governor, and included Isaac Royal of Medford 
and John Chandler of Worcester, describes their ofiFence and 
expresses the apprehension that many dangers may accrue to 
this State and the United States, should they be again admitted 
to reside here ; it is therefore enacted that should either of them 
return, he shall be " transported to some port or place within 
the dominions, or in the possession of the forces of the king of 
Great Britain, as soon as may be ; " and, returning again with- 
out liberty from the General Court, shall, on conviction, " suffer 
the pains of death, without bene (it of (;lerg:y." 

NOTES D AND F— PAGES 30 AND 33. PROPRIETOR'S RECORDS. 

A duplicate copy of these "entered from the original and com- 
pared therewith," by the Proprietor's Clerk, together with a copy 
of the plan of their lands, taken after the final division into lots, 
are in our archives. The largest of the aforesaid copies brings 
down the doings of the Proprietors to their last meeting in 
1787,' whereas the other closes May 30, 1774; our* references 
are to the first named copy. 

These documents are worthy of careful f)reservation. as illus- 
trating our early history, and the character of the men who un- 
dertook the settlement of this then waste corner of Worcester 
County. Through :" long series of meetings, extending over 
many years, and bridging two periods of })rotraetcd war, these 
men were prompt in their attendance upon the business, and 
earnest and liberal in their policy of bringing forward this set- 
tlement. From the day they paid down their first installment, 
until their corporate existence ceased, there were plenty of as- 
sessments on their shares for the payment of expenditures, while 
their dividends were not only few and far between, but also very 
small. 

The records designate two divisions of these lands. Tli:; first 
consisted of seventeen 200 acre lots appropriated foi- the settle- 



80 

merit of the 60 families and the public lots required by the con- 
ditions of the sale and called the "settler's division" or "first 
division.'" These lots were located in different parts of the 
purchase in such manner as the committee judged wonld best 
subserve the interests alike of proprietors and settlers. The 
public square of ten acres is also to be added, and we have the 
amount of land, in addition to their purchase mone}'', and all their 
time, labor and assessments, appropriated to fulfill the condi- 
tions of the sale. 

In the " second division," (called also " the Proprietors part '' 
or " division,") the residue of the land was also laid out in 200 
acre lots, where it could be done, and in other cases the contents 
of the smaller lots wore expressed. The maadow lands, however- 
were laid out in 10 acre lots, so far as the committee judged 
them worth the expense of surveying; and a special committee 
was chosen to ' " qualify " the lots, by so " coupling a good lot 
and a poorer lot together that justice be done to each proprie- 
tor in the drawing of the lots." '■ A fair plan of this division 
was to be made out, and " returned to the Proprietors in order 
to be recorded." 

When all this was so done, the Proprietors, at a meeting 
June 7, 1 765, and before proceeding to draw for lots, appropri- 
ated to the first settled minister, for the ministry, and the school, 
in addition to the 100 acres already set apart for ca^h, the fol- 
lowing lots, — to'thc minister "the lot No. 63, containing 166 
acres, and the lot No. 75, containing 165 acres." — for the minis- 
try, "the lot No. 68, containing 200 acres, and the lot No. 114, 
containing 144 acres, and the lot No. 32. containing 80 acres," — 
for tlie school, the lot No. 2, containing 193 acres, the lot No. 89, 
containing 85 a^rcs, aid tha lot No. 3[), containing 142 acres. 
All these lots were in the second, or Proprietors' division. 

And here we have the origin of the old ministerial, and school 
funds, these lands having been, at length, sold by the town, and 
their proceeds invested, and the yearly in30ni3 of w]ii3]i still 



90 

perpetuates the influence of those Proprietors, in these directions 
Most of the other lots in tliis division, and one lot (No, 8) in 
the settlei's' part, in exchange for which, two lots of 100 acrcy 
each, had been laid out the year befoi-e, were drawn l)y the sev- 
eral Proprietors, arid became their individual propei'ty. The 
residue remained as common and undixided lands; and in 1770 
these meetings began to be called, not in the name of " the Pro- 
prietors of Royalston,"' but '• the Proprietors of the commotj 
and undivided lands lying in Royalston. 

NOTE G.— PAGE 33. OUR CHARTER. 

I Anno Regni Regis Georgii Tertii Quinto.] — An act for erecting 
a town in the county of Worcester l)y the name of Royalston : 

Whereas the Proprietors of the land lying north of Athol, 
within the county of Worcester, known by the name of Royal- 
ston, have petitioned this Court, that, for the reasons mentioned, 
said land may bo incorporated into a Town, and vested with the 
powers and authority belonging to the other Towns, for the 
enoouragcment of said settlement. — 

Be it enacted by the Governor, Council, and House of Rep- 
resentatives that said tract of land bounded and described as 
follows viz : Beginning at a pillar of stones on the province line, 
the northwest corner, and from thence running south by the east 
line of Warwick five miles and two lunidred and ninety three 
rods to a pillar of stones, the southwest corner, and from thence 
running east with the north line of Atliol five miles and two hun- 
dred and sixty five rods to a red oak and a heap of stones, the 
northeast corner of Athol and from tlionce south by the east line, 
of Athol one mile and one hundred and ninety rods to a stake 
and stones, a corner of Templeton, and from thence east three 
degrees south one mile and eighty si.x rods by said Templeton. 
to the southwest corner, and from thence north twelve degrees 
east five miles and eighty rods on the west line of Winchendou 
to a heap of stones, the northwest corner of said Wi.iclu idon 
a:ul thence cast twelve degrees south six mi'.es a-.id sixt.- rods b) 



1)1 

the north line of said Wincheudon to the northeast corner 
thereof, and from tluMicc north twelve decrees east by the west 
line of Dorchester Canada two hundred and ninety five rods to 
the province north hounds, and from thence by the province line 
fourteen miles and two hundred and ei^'hty five rods to the cor- 
ner first mentioned. He and hereby is enacted into a Town, by 
the name of Royalston, and the inhabitants thereof shall have 
and enjoy all such immunities and privileo-es as other Towns in 
this province hav(; and do by law enjoy. And be it further enacted 
that Joshua' Willard Esq., be and hereby is empowered to issue 
his warrant t) some principal inhabitant, of said Town of Roya- 
ston requirin<r him, in his Majesty's name, to warn and notify 
the said inhabitants qualified to vote in Town affairs to meet 
tot2;etlier at such time and place, in said Town, as shall be ap- 
])ointed in said warrant, to choose such officers as the law 
directs, and may be necessary to manage the affairs of said 
Town, and the inhabitants so met shall be and arc hereby em- 
powered to choose officers accordingly. — And be it further 
enacted that all those persons that have already agreed to settle 
in said Township, and have given their bonds to perform the 
same, shall ba accounted as part and parcel of said inhabitants, 
and be allowed to vote in their Town Meetings, in all Town 
aflairs, as fully as those who actually live upon their settle- 
ment i)i said Town, and shall be accordingly taxed for the pur- 
poses aforesaid. 

In Council Jan. 31, 1765, read a first time. In Council Feb- 
ruary 1, 1765, read a second time, and passed to be engrossed. 
Sent down for concurrence. Jno. Cotton, D. Secretary. In 
the House of Representatives February 14, 1765. Read three 
several times and concurred 

S. WHITE, Speaker. 

Saturday, February 16, 1765. An engrossed bill, entitled an 
act for erecting a Town in the county of Worcester, by the name 



92 

of Royalston, havinir passed the House of Representatives to be 
enacted, 

In Council read a third .tiuie, and passed in concurrence to be 
enacted, 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Secretary's Department, 
Boston, July 1, 1865, 

A true copy from the Archives and Records. 
OLIVER WARNER, 

Secretary of the Commonwealth. 



NOTE H.— PAGE 34. EARLY SETTLERS. 

Even the names of some of these have doubtless fallen out, 
alike from record and memory ; while not a few of those that 
remain admit of only imperfect, and often very uncertain illus- 
tration. We give such as we have been able to glean, and veri- 
fy in some good degree. Convenience in locating the settlers, 
rather than the order of their coming in, has determined the 
arrangement of this note, which, like the settlement of the town 
itself, covers quite a number of years. 

Rev. Joscj)h Lee, has appropriate notice on pages 37-39. 
The old parsonage still stands at the head of the common, 
though with an addition on the east side. Thomas J. Lee, Esq, 
succeeded his father on the estate, and is referred to i)ages 59- 
60. The house and lands, since his removal, have had various 
proprietors. None of the family remain in town. A son, Capt. 
Sam'l Lee, of Templeton, was one of our Vice Presidents on 
centennial day. 

Cai)t. Peter JVoodbnry settled next south, on the Atliol road; 
had a large family of sons and daughters, 10 of whom lived to 
have families of their own ; kept a public house many years ; 
d. 1806, ae. 70; was succeeded by his S. Capt. Daniel, who m. 
Esther, D. of Jonathan Waite; he was succeeded by liis S. 
Peter, who still lives upon the place, having settled his sons, 



93 

< reorsro, and James P. on this early and still excellent farm, now 
furnished with two dwelling houses, and good out-buildini;s. 

Capt. Woodbury is represented among us, not only by grand 
childreu and great grand children, but by descendants in families 
not bearing his name. It is related of him, that, probably on 
the occasion of the Burgoyne alarm, he marched into the meet- 
ing house in time of divine service, and gave out this military 
<)rder, "Every man belonging to my company, turn out." 

There were several large and early families west of this place, 
in a section now given up to wood and pasture land. Jona. 
IVaite lived just upon the height of land back of Woodbury's. 
Here Capt. Daniel found his wife, as did some other young men. 
The family at *iength removed from town ; and the place was, 
lor a time, occupied by various persons. Thomas BeaI.e was one 
of them — a name once familiar in town. Ohadiah Walker, from 
Douglas, brought up a large family on a place further west; m. 
Nancy McCullock of Barre, was one of the first settlers. His 
sons, Obadiah and Elijah, settled in town, and descendants of 
both still remain with us. His D., Martha, m. Ephraira Hill. 
He d. in Croydon, N. H. 1810, a\ 90. Cornelius Putnam, from 
Sutton, was a neighbor of Walker; had a large family, but re- 
moved from town, and David Swcci, became proprietor of a part, 
or all, of these two farms; and though he left none to represent 
him in town, we still have his name in the Sweet lot in this 
vicinity. 

Sou ill of Capt. Woodbury's on the Athol road, we next find 
the settlement of Ezclcicl Cutler, supposed to have come from 
Sutton. He is said to have inaugurated cider-making in Royal- 
.ston ; d. 1800 le. G4; was succeeded by his S. Ezekicl, whose 
children were all, or mostly, born hero. The family removed 
from town, and the place, after passing through several hands, 
is now owned by N. Wilson Bragg. 

Deii. Bcnj. Woodhury settled the r.cxt p'acc, south. lie or- 
ganized with the 1st Cong. Church here, Oct. 13, 17GG; was ono 



94 

of its first deacons; d. 1793, ae. 68. Daniel FTubbard oooupied 
this place- for many 3'^ears. 

Benojah fVoodbunj, settled fartliei- soutli, at the foot ol' the 
hill, where jVrteraas Ra,ymond now lives; d. 1802, iv. 55. 
These three Woodburys were brothers, and from Sutton. Only 
the first named has now representatives in town. 

The " settlers lot," No. 16, la,y next south, and is inscribed, 
on the Proprietors' Plan, with the nam:e of "StockwcU." We 
suppose that Abraham, Moses, and Dani(d Stockwell. each had a 
familv on this lot. One of their settlements was where Sullivan 
Raymond now lives. It is said that the others settled over the 
hill, west from this farm. " 

BenJ. Marsh built a irrist and saw mill on the site oriprinally 
selected for this purpose, by the Proprietors, near the falls on the 
Lawrence. He received a title to the " mill lot " south, and ad- 
joininc: the falls, with other encouragements, and gave his bond to 
build, and maintain, suitable mill accommodations; but failing 
to meet the conditions of his bond, the Proprietors recovered 
£200, in a suit at law; a part of which they afterwards remit- 
ted. He sold and moved from town. 

Isaac Gale, from Sutton, succeeded him; but d. 1779, x. 
48. He was the ancestor of the Gales, who since have been 
numerous and highly respected in town. His S. Isaac, father 
of Isaac, Jonathan and Otis, settled in the east part of the town, 
and their families settled about him. His S. Jonathan, settled 
in the west ])art of the town, and was long a neighbor of his 
brother-in-law, Lt. Daniel Peck, who m. his sister, Dilly. These 
early mills wer(^ on the site now occupied by Sullivan Raymond, 
and Son's old saw mill, and pail shop. The 77iiU lot has several 
proprietors at the present time. 

Nathaniel Bragg, settled south of this lot, and adjoining 
Athol ; m. a Miss Wilson from Barre ; was of English descent, 
and ancestor of all of his name in town; d. 1818 a?. 72; was 



95 

SIC needed by his S. N'athaniel, whose widow still lives near the 
old house spot, with a daug^hter ; and whose sons, N. Wilson, and 
Henry 0. Bragg, are the proprietors of most of their father, 
and grand father's land. Benj. brother of Nathaniel Jr., built 
a carding mill, afterwards converted into a satinet factory, north 
of the falls, and lived and died in tliis neighborhood. His sec- 
ond wife survives him, and three of his children live in town. 

In the early times, the road leading directly south from the 
common by the east side of the school house, was quite populous ; 
but now is without inhabitants. We here indicate some of the 
settlements. 

fVilliam Town located just north of the Lawrence meadows, 
on the east side of the road. He brought up a large family ; 
was one of the ^rst settlers; '^ embodied" with the Con'g'l 
Church in 1766; was a prominent and respected citizen; d. 
1811, se. 80; was succeeded by his S. Moses, who sold to Isaac 
Whitmore. The place has since had several proprietors. 

Samuel Putnam, from Sutton, and David Cojjeland, settled west 
of this road, and north of the Lawrence meadows. The latter 
had a Tannery, vestiges of which may still be seen. His name 
too, still adheres to the land he once owned ; but none of these 
families, or their descendants are known to reside among us. 

Lenox Tiles, settled some distance south of the Lawrence, at 
the corner of the roads — Aslibel Goddard's old place ; William, 
S. of Capt. Gad Pierce, subsequently owned the place; and 
after him, Ashbel Goddard, who m. Betsey, d. of William 
Pierce. He still owns the place, though now residing upon the 
common. On the west road from this corner was the settlement 
of Naknm Green, mentioned on pages 51, 52. A marble slab is 
•in preparation to mark the solitary, and long neglected grave of 
this early patriot. 

Capt. Jonathan Sibley, from Sutton, settled next west, and 
ad/jiiiing Gi'cen's. In 1763, ho boui,-Iir, and prepared- his farm 
for settlement ; the next vcar brought on his wife, two cows and a 



93 

pair of s^tocrs. Tlie wild beasts soon made way with one of his 
steers. He became a substantial farmer and vahiable citizen ; 
d. 1810, a\ 70; his wife died only a few weeks before; was 
succeeded by his S, Jonathan, after whose death the farm was 
sold to Jonatlian Gale, who m. Patty Pierce. Since his death 
the place has been tnined into pusturaue. owned by his son. 
Dana, and son-in-law, 'J'nrrant Cutler, and still called the Uale 
lot. The widow of Jonathan Sibley, Jr. built the house on the 
common, now owned by John Pierce, wheie she resided till her 
death, in 1853 je. 92. The FAlis place, near Athol line, on the 
south road I'rom Ashbcl Goddard's farm, was early settled and 
till recently has been occupied by descendants of the original 
proprietor, Ezekiel Ellis. 

Returning from this depopulated region, and passing down 
the common on the west side, we have next south of the present 
meeting-house, the settlement of the Dis. Bdclicllcr, father and 
son, specially noticed page 46. This ancient residence, modern- 
ized and beautified, is now, with the land attached, owned and 
occupied, by Chauncy Chase, S. of David Chase, the oldest S, 
of Lt. Francis Chase, who m. Caroline, D. of Rnssel Morse, Sen. 

Ebenczer Elliot, settled north of the original common. His 
house stood hard by tlie old town pump; D. 1794. This place, 
togetlicr Avith other lands north, Avas bouglit by Capt. William 
Raymond, Irom Athol, Avho built the house now owned and occu- 
pied by Ashbel Goddard, and gave the town the land by which 
tli.e common was extended to his residence. He was the im- 
mediate ancestor of the Raymond's at the sout'i part of the 
town. His father, Edward Raymond, lived and died with him.' 
Edward was S. of Solomon Raymond, who came irom England, 
settled in Bedford, and was a Revolutionary soldier. A cancele'd 
Treasury note of $150, re:;civGl by the said Solomon for his? 
services, is now in the hands of cir townsman, Joseph Raymond, 
Esq., a souvenir of his great grand father. 



97 

Joel and Benj. Winship, settled on tlie road leading from the 
northwest corner of the common. Their buildings stood about 
midway on the east side of the late Stephen P. White's pasture. 
They were the first men that died in town ; and both by violent 
deaths, Joel perished in the cold, Jan. 21st, 17G5. He was 
found dead, in the road east of Capt. Woodbury's, near where 
the tomb now stands, with part of a deer he had killed in the 
S. W. part of the town. The next year his brother Benj. 
was killed near his house, by the falling of a tree. 

Jonah Hill, from Douglas, one of the first settlers, located 
north ; house stood near the S. E., cof ner of Joseph Estabrook's 
pasture, m., Esther Livermore ; his daughter, Abigail, is claimed 
as the Jirst-born of Royal^ton. His S., Oliver, settled on the 
home farm : Mr. Hill settled his S., Ephraim, and his son-in-law. 
Elijah Walker, on a 200 acre lot, in the west part of the town, 
bought of the Proprietors. Ephraim Hill m., Martha, sister of 
Elijah Walker, who married the aforesaid Abigail Hill. Jonah 
Hill d., 1806. a?. 69. 

Jaso7i Babcock, settled west of Hill's ; his house stood near 
the S. E., corner of George Woodbury's pasture ; was taken cap- 
tive by the Indians, while living in At hoi, and carried to Canada. 
After getting safely back he removed to Royalston with his 
family. Katurah, a daughter, fe. 15, was killed by lightning, Aug. 
.30, 1769. She was watching from a window, the return of the 
people from church, it being the Sabbath. The only other cases 
in town, of death by lightning,of which we learn, occurred in 1 845 ^ 
and in the house on the adjoining Hill farm. The victims were 
two young persons, John H. C. Niclwls, and a daughter of James 
Pierce. They were instantly killed by the same bolt. The last 
three settlements now deserted. 

Berij. Hutchinson, from Sutton, settled next north of the Hill 
place, was succeeded by his S., Joshua, whose heirs lately sold 
the place to Joseph Raymond Esq. who, after putting the build- 
ings in excellent repair, has settled his S., A. D wight Raymond. 



98 

upon the farm. The eUier Hutchinson was a carpenter ; buildinirn 
put up by him hetwocn 90 and 100 yrs. ag-o are still standing. 
In ropairino- his farm house Mr. Raymond left one of the cham- 
bers as originally finished., — a specimen of the taste, patience, 
and workmanship, of this ancient yome/-. 

Ephraim WhitMetj, known also as Elder Whitney, settled 
north of this place on the old road noM"^ discontinued, as is also 
the settlement itself This place had been previously opened 
and occupied by Daniel Pike. Lucy Whitney, D. of the elden 
m., Abijah Richardson Jr. who succeeded his father Abijah on 
his place, Ephraim W. S., bf Abijah and Lucy Richardson, after 
graduating- with much promise, died just as he Avas entering upon 
the ministry. Another S., Andrew^, was a captain in the late 
war, and still another Jefterson, died on his voyage home fi'om 
the war. 

Timothy Richardson, from Wrentham, settled next north, built 
near where Benj. W. Upham now lives. His first wife, Alice 
Wyman, was a relative of the gallant Seth Wyman, \^dio, after 
the fall of Capt. Lovewell and his Lieut, commanded in the 
bloody "Lovewell fight;" and, l)y some historians, is made the 
hero of that celebrated personal encounter with the Iidian-chief, 
Paugus. Mr. Richardson and his wife were original members 
of the 1st Congregational Church in Royalston. He was Royal- 
ston's first Representative in the General Court ; settled several 
of his sons around him, and this whole section used to throng 
with his descendants. Abijah settled on the home-lot. and lived 
where Benj. W. Upham now lives. Eliphalet settled where 
Joseph R. Eaton now lives.* Timothy. Jr. settled where his S.. 
the late Stephen Richardson, lived. There Timothy Sen. d, 
1801, a*. 87; here his S., Timothy d., and here also, Stephen, 
the S., of Timothy Jr. d., 1863, k. 84. 

Samuel Fetch Jr. from Reading, settled the place, perhaps 
already opened, where now Russel ilorse Jr. lives. His father, 
Samuel, and his brothers, Caleb and Nathan, seem to have i-emoved 



99 

to town about tlie same time ; and all of them appear to have had 
settlements and families in this part of the town. The father is 
supposed to have lived near the pail shop of Horace Pierce and 
Son. His wile, Eunice, d., 1792, a\ 69. In 1795, he, being- 76, 
in., Elizabeth Walton, ae. 70- He d., 1803, a\ 82. Caleb Felch 
ni., Mary Chase, D., of Lieut. Francis Chase 1788, She d., 1798, 
ic., 35. He settled on the place now owned by Wm. Fordice 
Bigelow, his dwelling house standing some 60 rods north of the 
present buildings. Nathan Felch had a family in town, but 
we cannot locate him. Lieut., Samuel Felch, S., of Samuel 
Felch Jr. carried on the mill on the Moore place, so called; 
within the recollection of some of our citizens. Some of this 
name removed to Fitzwilliara. William, a S., of Caleb, removed 
to Reading, Vermont, where a flourishing village bears the name 
of Felchville, from him. We have none of this name now in 
town, and whether ' they've remov'd or died,' we are in the same 
doubt as the Bi-centennial Poet of Reading, Mass., from whence 
they came, who thus poetizes ; 

" Of Reulfen Eaton, 1 must quote 

One entertaining anecdote ; 

He lived within tliose cottage walls. 

Where Adam Hawkes the senior dwells ; 

A place that once was occupied 

By Fdches, who've remov'd, or died." 

TIionidH Perry, — father of Micah, Thaddeus and Asa, all of 
whom had families in town, but as difficult of location as were 
the P'elehes, — settled tlu; j>lace now owned by Russel Morse, Sen. 
He sold to I)ea. Ammi Falkner, who was to support him. He 
l>ecame quite infirm, and at times somewhat deranged. On the 
night of Jan. 10, 1810, he left his room, and wandered about in the 
snow and cold until he died, 03. 91. Dea. Falkner m., Anna, D. 
of Wm. Town. She d., 1817, a). 57, and the Dea. m., for his 
second wife, the widow of Jonas Brewer, Sen. He ultimately 



TOO 

removed to Milbury. wh(M'e he lived and died with his son, Cyrus. 
The ])rescnt proprietor, Mr. Morse, with the eompanion of his 
youth, is spending the evening- of Ids lonir and industrious life in 
competency, surrounded with children and children's children. 

Maj. John Norton, from Reading, settled the next place north, 
m., Margaret, I)., of Dea. Jolin Bachcller. He sold to Capt. 
Isaac Metcalf. The place lias since had different proprietors, 
and is now owned by Albion Mosrnan. Maj. Norton, after several 
removals, finally bought and built upon the pla^e now owned by 
Wm. W, Clement, where he died. He was in the Revolutionary 
War, and fought in the trenches with Lieut. Jonas Work and 
Wra. Clement, soldiers from this town, in the battle of Bunker 
Hill. His S., Thomas, of Portland Me., was one of our Vice 
Presidents at the Centennial. 

John Bac-heller, Maj.. Estj. and Dea.. from Reading, settled 
north and adjoining the place last mentioned. His house stood 
on the opposite side and a little South of th;* i-esidence of SamM. 
Morse, the present proprietor : He was boi-n in Haverhill, m.. 
Margaret Swain of Reading, 1766. Pie removed to Royalstou 
from Reading, bringing his wife and live children, six more were 
subsequently added to this number. He buried his wife in 181(> 
and removed to Warwick, to live with his S., Thomas, where he 
died. Harniah, the first of his family born in town, m., Jonas 
Bartlett, and is now the sole survivor of her father's, and her own 
I'amily [10 children] with the exception of her son, John N. 
Bartlct, with whom she now lives, enjoying the use of her physi- 
cal and mental powers in a remarkable degree, though in her 89th 
year. Her ]\Iother was an immediate desccndrmt of the Apple- 
ton family, of Ipswich, among whom are found the '' Bleeders.'" 
so called. Mr. Bartlett, has furnished us with a note, illu.stratiiig 
this phenomenon; which will be found under its appropriate 
title, " Bleeders." 

Elisha Cheney, settled next north, [the place may have been 
opened before] where he kept tavern and store for sometime. 



101 

This place has been in many hands since ; the last two having 
been Noah Miles, who died on the place, and his S., Henry, the 
present proprietor who succeeded him. 

Silas Heyivood,' settled on the west road from this corner. 
His farm adjoined the State Line. His family was one of the 
sufferersin the epidemic of 1795, — refered to page 60 — five of the 
children dying that year. He was succeeded b/his S., Silas, 
who sold to his brother Benj., who exchanged with Moses Nichols 
for the Felch farm, on which he erected the present buildings. 
He afterwards sold and removed to Fitzwilliam, where he lately 
died. Moses Nichols, S., of Henry or ''Landlord Nichols," m. 
Sally Beals, for his first wife, Sarah Whitney of Littleton, for 
his second, and Mehitable Cutler for his third. His S., Henry, 
now occupies the place. 

There were several other early settlements east from these 
last places. Ehenezer GoodelVs adjoined the Felch, or Bigelow 
farm. Jonas Leicis lived east of the Lawrence, and probably 
built the first saw-mill on the site of Horace Pierce & Son's pail 
shop. Other names are given, and vestiges pointed out in this 
region, but we are unable t , illustrate them. Here, too, east of 
the pail shop, we have Tory MIL with its various and conflicting 
traditions, the most probable of which, perhaps, is, that certain 
Tories, fleeing before popular indignation, made an old building 
on the unfrequented bridle-road over the hill, their refuge for a 
time. It is said they were driven off by the strategy of one 
man, wlio, for the sport of the thing, came upon the house in the 
night, armed with a musket, and bidding his men stand firm 
and take the Tories, dead or alive, called upon them to sur- 
render. There was a rush from the side and rear windows, and 
the flight of the fugitives was hastened by the discharge of the 
musket ; and that was the last of these interlopers in Royalston, 
— all which is clearly possible, while it appears a very proper 
reason for the name of this hill, which were otherwise hard to be 
accounted for. 



102 

Joseph Emerson, from Roiuliug, settled vvhci'o A. F. Tenny now 
lives; was a Revolutioiuiry pcasioiier; m. Rebecca Nichols; he 
and his wife d. 1837, a\ respectively 86, and 87; was succeeded 
by his S.. Dea. Joseph Emerson ; who sold to Dea. Lot Richard- 
son, who m. Polly, D., of the original settler. The present pro- 
prietor m. Mary, D., of Dea. Richardson. Elias, another son of 
the original settler, lived where his ?.. Wm. PI. Emerson now 
lives. 

Joseph Eves, said to have been a deserter from Burgoyne's 
array, settled east of Emerson; died 1797, ae. 46, leaving a 
widow aiid an adopted son, Joseph, on the place. The widow 
m. Solomon Eager, from Warwick, and died here at an advanced 
age. The adopted son married Dinah Eager ; whose son, Jo- 
seph, now resides in Dublin, New Hampshire. A daughter m. 
Simeon -Bosworth of this town. This is now known as the 
Eager place, but deserted. 

Bcnj. Leathe, from Reading, settled next south from Emerson, 
m. Lois Walton, of Reading; is said to have participated in 
that original and historic ''Tea Party"' in Boston harbor, and to 
have served in the Revolution ; was succeeded by his son, 
Benj., who lately died upon the place. The farm now owned 
by Amos M. Lamb, — John, a son of Benj. Leathe, Sen. owns the 
Nathan Cutting place. 

John Fry, Capt. Esq. and Dea., illustrated on page S5, was 
an original member of the Cong'l Church and one of its lirst 
deacons. His grandsons, John and the late Benj. Fry, occupied 
the two present substantial farm-houses upon this place, still the 
property of the inunediate descendants of the original settler. 

The south and east slopes of this hill, beautiful for situation 
and of excellent soil, have afforded homesteads for numerous 
families, lirst and last; but the changes are not now within our 
power of illustration. John Hol/nan, S., of Edward, though not 
the first settler, once owned the farm, now the property of Bar- 
net Bullock. Esq, and transmitted it to his S., Dea. Seth Holman, 

V 



103 

ately deceased. The latter afterwards Used wliorc Dea. 
VTaynard Partridge now lives, and carried on the mills there. 
His widow and S., Seth N. Holnian, now live at the corner of 
;he roads, south of the Fry place. iSih-anus Hcminu-ay, from 
>udbury, probably, settled east of the Bullock place, on the old 
road, and where Dr. Richardson afterwards lived for a time. 
Ffe owned a large tract of land, extending south nearly to the 
Winchendon road. He was a pi'omiuent citizen ; had a 
arge family; was delegate, in 1T7*>, to the Convention, 
ivhich framed the Constitution of Massa'^husetts. Neither 
lis family, nor name, so far as we nan learn, is now represented 
II town. 

Nathan Biigham Newton first settled on the west bank of the 
Lawrence, near where Dea. Fat ridge now lives. He afterwards 
•emoved and located on the high lauds east of the river where now 
stands the goodly farm house and buildings of his son Col. Elmer 
Vewton. He mai'ricd Mary Stewart ; had a family of twelve 
ihildren, and became one of our largest laud iiolders ; d. 1843, 
e. 84; his wife, d. 1842. a'. 82. Col. now Dea. Elmer Newton, 
:he only survivor of this large family, with the exception of a 
ividowed sister, is the present pro])rietor of this fine estate. 
This early family remains honoi-a])ly represented and connected 
in our present population. 

William Brown, fi-oni Reading, fii-st settled the Prouty 
place, and established a tannery there, then bought of Elder 
Whitman Jacobs the place south and adjoining Newton's, 
rtdiere, as is supposed, Abel Whitney first settled. In several 
purchases he annexed to his farm tlie Thomas Heminway place 
farther south, and became a large landed proprietor. In his 
idvancing years, like his neighbor Newton, he settled his 
3on, Col. Benj. Brown with him and died here 1830, «. 72; his 
tvife d. 1851,0). 90. Col. Brown connnanded the Royalston 
grenadiers, when they marched for the defence of Boston in the 
ast war with England. He, too, has lately settled his son Lt. 



104 

Benj. H. Brown, with him ou this well conditioned farm ; remit- 
ting, at his discretion, care and labor to younger heads and 
hands. 

Thomas Heminwaij, whose place south of this has now l)ecome 
a part of the Brown farm as above stated, was an early settler 
with a family of sons and daughters, all of whom are gone. 

Jon'n. Cutler, from Sutton, settled on the west corner of the 
roads north of Newton's, but, later in life, he bought the Daniel 
Moody place, and settled there with his S.. Tarrant, where he d. 
1826, as. 90. Tarrant m. Lydia Whitney. He was succeeded by 
his S. Tarrant, the present proprietor, several of whose brothers 
settled abroad, and among them, Lysander, now residing in Mil- 
waukee, Wis., who entered the late war as Col., rose to Brig. 
Gen. and now, for meritorious service, ranks as Maj. Gen. by 
brevet. 

Lt, James Work settled on the east corner*of the roads and op- 
posite to Cutler's first settlement. He was a companion in arms 
with Major Norton and William Clement at the battle of Bun- 
ker hill. His D. Sally, married William Pierce, S. of Capt. Gad 
Pierce, and his I). Betsey, married William Chase, son of Lt. 
Frances Chase, and he is at present represented in town by the 
descendants of these families; d. 1783, a\ 40. His widow m. 
Alexander Parkman Davis of Templeton, by whom she had 
other children. She and her second husband die<l u])oi: this 
place. These adjoining farms are now discontinued. 

Bezaleal Bartmi SQii\tA next north of these farms, built a grist 
mill on the Lawrence west of his house, where now stands the 
Moore saw mill, so called; d. in Camp atCharlestown, 1 775, {«. 50. 
This place has passed through several hands since ; the mill and 
lands adjoining, have been detatched from the original farm which 
is now the property of the heirs of the late Col. Willard 
Newton, and occupied by his son, Horatio D. Newton. 

Samuel Barton, who with his wife Hannah organized with the 
Cong'l Church in 17Gfi, and was a Revolutionary Soldier, and 



105 

]3euj. Barton, who inarriod Mehitable Fry, in ITGO, we are 
unable to locate. • 

John Black settled on the Winchendon road east from the 
Cutler and Work corners, near where school house No. 2, now 
stands. 

Lt. Francis Chase, from flutton, settled on this road, at the 
next corner north, on the site of the Doanc place, so called, m. 
Mary Perkins of Sutton, died on his way from Boston, probably 
in a fit, 1791, a?. 55. He and one or more of his sons, were 
called out during the war, pi-obably on the occasion of the Bui'- 
goyne invasion. David, his eldest son, after living awhile in 
district No. 8, a place now discontinued, succeeded his lather. 
His wife was Sarah Raymond of Athol. He d. 1816, a\ 55. 
His son Chauncy now lives on the common. William Chase, 
brother of David, who married Betsey Work, settled on the 
place now owned by his son, Ge >rge Chase, and is represented 
in town by Capt. Wiliiani. Fraii'is Chase, and other families. Eliz- 
abeth, daughter of Lt. Chase, was lost in the woods, when three 
or four years old, and not recovered till after a search of several 
days. Mrs. Black, a neighbor, found her in the cornfield eating- 
green corn. When returned to the family the father, for the first 
time, during all those terrible days, gave way to tears. The child 
related that she had •' eaten some berries, seen the bear trap and 
men with dogs and guns, but they was n't her father, and she hid ;'' 
she afterwards m. Eli{)halet Richardson, and died at the age of 86. 
Her daughter Mt-s. Betsey Eaton, the venerable mother of a 
member of this committee, lives with her son, Joseph E. Eaton, 
on her father's place, Mr. Eaton well remembers that, when a 
boy, aged men used to call upon his grandmother and talk over 
the incidents of that exciting hunt, in which they were participa- 
tors. 

Jonas Thompson, from Holden, settled next north ; m. Marga- 
ret Beath of Worcester; d. 1816, x. 72. Capt. Robert Thomp- 
son, his son, succeeded him; d. 1864, ad. 91, having previously 



s; 



106 

settled his son, Orrin, the present proprietor, upon the place. 
This is one of our large and valuable farms, always having been 
conducted by intelligent and practical farmers and highly respec- 
table citizens. 

Lt. Oliver Work, supposed to be brother of Lt. James "Work, 
settled next east of Lt. Francis Chase, on the Winchendon road. 
He m. for his first wife Sarah Heminway, in 1780. She d. 1788, 
ie. 32; and he m. Hannah Cutler in 1789. He d. 1793, as. 48. 
This place was afterwards owned and occupied by Sam'l Gregory. 
Then by Capt. Wm. Chase. Since he left it, it has had several 
proprietors, and now, lately, has shared the fate of Poland, being- 
partitioned and incorporated with the farms adjacent. Only the 
barn and cellar-hole remain to tell of this once flourishing set- 
tlement. 

David and Joel Taft, John fVood and Levi Fiske, all from Up- 
ton, bought 329 acres, at $2,00 per acre, lying east from the last 
named place, — constituting a part of the '' Pierpont Grant." 
This purchase was divide I into four lot^, upon which, howevoi-, 
they continued to work in company, till they had each 
(save Fiske, who sold out to Wood) prepared homes for their 
prospective families. Two of them found wives among the daugh- 
ters of the land, whither they had come to dwell. David Taft, 
m. Eunice, D., of Lt. Jouas Allen ; and Wood m. Zerriah, D., of 
Capt. Peter Woodbury. Joel Taft, also, soon became a house- 
keeper. Such was the origin of the Taft and Wood farms ; 
each of which have added wealth and population to the town. 
The Taft farms are now dismantled of dwellings, and either ab- 
sorbed in other farms, or occu})ied by non-residents as pasture 
lands &c. But the Wood farm continues to flourish ; and the 
present proprietor, lately come into possession, gives promise of 
sustaining its reputation. He is the eldest S. of John Wood, 
Esq. who d. 1863, a;. 50; and who was one of our best, and 
most enterprising farmers, and a useful, as now a lamented 



107 

citizen. He succeeded hid father, the original settler. His ex- 
cellent widow lives with her S. Henry S. When this farm was first 
taken up there was serious apprelieusion lest it might prove de- 
ficient in enduring water, and in the quantity of stones. This 
doubt, long since dispelled, can scarcely fail to excite a smile, es- 
pecially in regard to the last particular, while surveying the 
massive walls that enclose the well sustained fields, and the 
large crop of well grown stones, turned out by crow bars and 
oxen at every successive " breaking up." 

Silas Bowker settled east of these farms, and near the Priest 
brook, probably on part of the " Priest Grant." His S. Ste- 
phen, settled the Bowker place, so called ; and the father ulti- 
mately removed, and closed his life with his S. Stephen, was 
succeeded by his S. Nathaniel, whose widow, and S., Ch. W. Bow- 
ker, now occupy this excellent farm, continued under good cul- 
tivation, and furuished with substantial and commodious buildings. 

Joseph Priest, illustrated p. 27, took the precaution of making 
a sort of castle, or, to express om'selves less romantically, block- 
house of his residence. We suspect that his small defensive pro- 
visions, constituted all the material there is for the tradition of 
a,/o/-t in this region. Another tradition has some currency, and 
perhaps more solid ground to stand upon. It is said that one 
of the committees for viewing this new territory, and preparing 
the way for settlement, brought on a small package of choice 
tea, and, putting up at this house, left it with the hostess in the 
morning with thp request, that she would prepare some for their 
j-efreshment, at the evening meal, when they returned from their 
tramp. The good woman did so, cooking the whole of the fragrant 
parcel, as a seasoning, along with the " boiled-dish." But if this 
ancient dame did not understand the most approved mode of tea- 
making, a descendant of hers, Miss N. A. W. Priest, born in 
town, but now a resident in Winchendou, can make good poetry ; 
as her beautiful Hymn, " Over the River," demonstrates. It is 



108 

worthy of the place it now holds amono; the "Hymns of the 
Ages," published by Tickuor & Co. Boston, Second Scries. 

In the nei<^hborhood of this proto-settlcr of our territory, there 
have been several large families, and good farms, though most of 
them were more modern, than fall within the design of these 
illustrations. Since the advent of Rail-roads, however, the travel 
has been taken off from the turn-pike, passing through this sec- 
tion, seriously aftbcting the thrift of this part of the town. 

About a mile south of Priest's we come to another early 
settler, Jon'a. Bosworth, Jr. He located on the west bank of 
Priest's brook just south of the Winchendon road, and where Ch, 
M. Flagg now lives ; m. Mary Holt, said to have been the first 
person Ijorn within the limits of Wincheiulon. They had 14 
children, some of whom still live, and not a few of their posterity. 
This settler came from Lunenburg in company with his father, 
Jon'n. who settled in the west part of the town, where Marshall 
Herrick now lives. Jon'n. Jr. d., 1818. a?., 70; his wife, 1847, 
ae., 93. Bosworth is said to have had a lively time with the 
wolves, one night ; being set upon by a pack of them, as he was 
' returning home through the woods. He had with him a lighted 
torch, and, as they pressed upon him, he would turn and rush 
among them with his flaming pine knot, scattering them in wild 
affright. He continued this manoeuver till he reached a place of 
safety. According to one version, he took refuge upon a huge 
boulder, that lies to this day hard by the south side of the road, 
nearly in the line of Col. Arnold's late residence, from the top 
of which he hurled defiance upon his baffled, and howling foes, 
till day-iigiit admonished them to disperse. 

Nathan Cutting settled about two miles west of Bosworth ; 
was one of the ^rst settlers; spent the winter of 1762 — 63, quite 
alone, in a house, or pkue, sunk partly into the hill, east of John 
Lcathe's, looking out upon the meadows. A thrifty young apple, 
tree now grows in the heart of this excavation. It should be 
grafted with some choice fruit, and made to hear up this early 



109 

name. Cutting got this dwelling so comfortable that he oc- 
cupied it for some years after he was married; but ultimately 
built upon the site of John Leathe's house, the present propri- 
etor. His barn, upon the opposite side of the road, put up by 
Benj. Hutchinson, still stands, only having been in part new-silled, 
boarded below, and shingled, and bids fair to outlast many more 
modern, but less substantial structures. This settler d. 1821, ai. 
80. Mrs. Hiram Harrington, a grand daughter, and her children, 
are his only descendants, in town, as we suppose. 

Lieut. Jonas Allen, formerly written AUiene, settled west of 
this place, at the corner of the roads beyond the Bowker farm. 
His father came to town with him, and d., 1786, «., 86. The 
Lieut., built a saw-mill north of his house, where now Lyman 
Stone's mill stands ; was a prominent man, and at the head of 
an interesting family. He was a very early settler ; d. 1822, ae., 
93. Lucy, a D. of his. d. 1858, a?., 84, the last of the family in 
town. The mill and lands adjoining, were long since detached 
from this farm, which has had many owners since it passed out 
of the hands of the Aliens. Liberty Holt is its present propri- 
etor. 

Sila.s Cutting, settled next north of the mill, al)Ove named. 
•He d. while abroad in the war, 1777. Like Alien, and Nathan 
Cutting, he "embodied" with the 1st. Cong'l. Ch. in 1766. He 
is supposed to have lived on, or near the site of the house now 
occupied by Edwin Hadley, formerly occupied for some time by 
Joshua Cummings, father of Lt. Col. Charles Cummings, and of 
Rev. Henry Cummings, whose names appear in subsequent notes. 

Amos Jones, settled next north; came in during 1763; and of 
whom a Moose story is told. He was out looking up his cattle, 
and hearing a crashing among the under brush, supposed them 
to be at liand ; but instead of his cattle a huge Moose came 
forth and confronted him. His trusty gun soon made an end of 
the Moose, whose hide he afterwards converted into a pair of 
leather breeches, and a side-saddle. The breeches he wore him- 



110 

self; but upon the side-saddle ho pursuaded one Lydia Woolly, 
to ride home with liim, and take permanent possession of* Ww 
saddle, and his domestic affairs. They had a fine ftimily ol' 
children; and ultimately sold this place, and settled south of the 
Cutler farm, where their S. ?ilas Jones, now lives. He d, 1826, 
ae. 84. Silas, born 1780, became sole proprietor of this excel- 
lent farm, of which he liives the followintr amonf>' other items. 
He has raised 90 bushels of corn to the acre ; two years in suc- 
cession, harvested 400 bushels of corn, besides other uTain ; 
one year, having; cleared a large wood lot, and put it into rye, 
he had 1200 bushels of rye, in addition to 400 bushels of oth- 
er grain ; once he slaughtered a cow from his own stall, whose 
net weight was 1025 lbs. The large and substantial farm house, 
barn, and other buildings to match, together with the fine stock 
of cattle, found on these premises, give countenance to these 
figures ; but the rock-studded fields, might tempt one to question 
their accuracy. It was so with one of us ; but the old farmer 
thought our scepticism worthy only of the, perhaps, personal 
remark, " Folks don't love to work as well as they used to, 1 
think." The active farmer here now, is the S,, Dea. Aaron 
Jones, though the father is still as busy as the day is long, es- 
pecially in his fine garden, and among his large and profitable 
collection of grape vines, wliich cover not only arbor and trelTis, 
but the massive walls about the farm, and in their season, glow 
with the bloom of the ripening clusters. 

The original settlement of Amos Jones has now, for a genera- 
tion, been the property of James Wilson, whose children have 
all settled abroad, and who now resides in Winchendon. 

James Hnhhard, from Rutland, bought the farm next north, 
previously commenced by Jon'n Pierce. The buildings stand at 
the corner of the road, north of the last named place. He was 
succeeded by his S., James, the present proprietor, whose chil- 
dren, as they settled in life, have removed fi-om town. 



in 

JoJin Osborne, about 1770, bought the Pro'ps. lot, No. 76, con- 
taining 133 acres, lying east of Hnbbard's, and bounded on the 
east by the Pierpont Grant. The land cost him 93. fid. per 
acre. He d. 1792, a\ 49; and his place after several transfers, 
was bought in 1812, of Abel Downe by Amos Whitney, from 
Leominster, but whose father lived and died in Rindge, N. H. 
Mr. Whitney, m. Sophia Harris, of Fitchlnirg, and moved on to 
this place about 53 years ago. He has now settled his S., Levi, 
with him. His eldest S. Hon. George Whitney, the proprietor 
of tlie woolen factory, chair shop and other mills in So. Royal- 
ston, i^ now our heaviest business man and largest tax payer. 
He resides on the common. 

Nathan Reed, from Rutland, settled on the north road from 
the corner east of Whitney's, where his family grew up. Later 
in life he sold this place, and bought a farm farther east, now 
the Whitmore place. His I>., Betsey, m. Col. Benj. Brown. 
His S. Moses, lives in Winelicndon. Another S. Capt. Cyrus B. 
Reed, is one- of our good i'armers and worthy citizens. John 
Holman, S. of Lt. Edward, and father of Dea. Seth Holman 
bought this place of Nathan Reed; and settled his S. John upon 
it; who d. here 1859, a\ 68. His heirs lately sold the place to 
Marcus Hobbs, the present occupant. 

Jacob Hale, if not the first, was an early settler on the farm 
at the end of the south road, from the corner last named. It is 
now the valuable and well conducted farm of Solyman Heywood 
who m. Harriet, 1)., of Stephen, one of the youngest children of 
Lt. Edward Holman. 

Joel Howard, the proprietoi" of th^ farm west of Heywood's, 
m. Comfort, D.. of Jacob Hale. 

William Clement, settled on the road leading to the common 
from Lt. Jonas Allen's place. The site of his house is a little 
west of the foot of the hill, and north of the road. He m. An- 
na, D., of Henry Nichols. Their children Isaac, Elizabeth, Sally, 
William, Mary, Dilly and Charlotte, were born liere, and several 



112 ^ 

of thorn settled in town, — [saac m. Mary, I), of Wm. Town; 
Sally ni. Isaac Proiity, who bought the farm and tannery, then 
lately (Established by Wm. Brown, and carried on both the 
tanning business and the farm ; was succeeded by his S., Wm. 
H. Prouty, the present proprietoi-. The tannery was burnt some 
years aijo, and has not been rebuilt; Elizabeth m. Asa, S., of Dr. 
Stepluin Uachellcr, Sen. and settled on the [)lace next west of 
Prouty's — said to have been begun by Reuben Walker — The Dr. 
and his wife spent their last years here; and Asa Bacheller and 
his wife lately died upon the place, which is now owned bv 
Franklin 11. S. of Ashbel Cloddard. 

About 1810, Wm. Clement with a part of his family removed 
to Croydon, N. H. where he d. a?., 85. He was a soldier of the 
Revolution, and in the battle of Bunker Hill. His S., William, 
has returned to his native town, and is now living with his second 
wife, the widow of the second Dr. Bacheller, on the place next 
west of Franklin H. Goddard's. His S., Wra. W. Clement, our 
Representative elect to the next (xeneral Court, is the proprietor 
of the Maj. Norton place, — the last before reaching the common. 

Lt. Nathan Wheeler settled next west of his compatriot, William 
Clement, Sen. He and his wife organized with the Cong'l, Ch. 
in 17()(). They removed to Lincoln, N. H. about 1702; and the 
farm l)ecanie the property of Caj^t. Gad Pierce. It is now bet- 
ter known as the Paul Pierce place ; but, like the Clement place, 
it is without inhabitants, or habitations. 

Capt. Gad Pierce^ born in Harvard, 1 741 , m. Mar}' Foster of 
Acton, and removed to Royalston. He finally built on the west 
bank of the Tjawrence, next east from Prouty's, where he open- 
ed a public house and had a good farm. He d. 1811, a'. 70, 
leaving his name upon this place to the present day. His name 
has heretofore been upholden by numerous and large families oi^ 
his descendants ; but at present only two distinct families of his 
name reside in town, — that of Horace Pierce, S. of Jonathan th<- 
" portly " post man, referred to on page, 62, and that of Capt, 



* 



113 

Georg-e Pierce, S., of William. The daughters and grand- 
daughters have dealt more kindly by the Captain ; and we still 
number a goodly representation, who trace back their pedigree, 
to this settler, through their mothers, — as the Pipers, Gales, Turn- 
ers, Goddards, Reeds and Bryants. Capt. William Pierce, from 
Acton, father of Capt. Gad, (whose given name was borne up by 
William, the father, and William, a brother of Capt. George 
Pierce,) and two other sons, Zebulun and Eliphalet, come to 
town with or soon after, Capt. Gad Pierce, and made settle- 
ments in this same neighborhood. But they all early removed, 
and left no representatives. The locality of Capt. William is 
still pointed out. It was on the west bank of the Lawrence, 
nearly east of the residence of his great-grandson, Capt. George 
Pierce, and on his land. 

Henry, Isaac and William Nichols, from Sutton, had early set- 
tlements in town. Henry better known, as " Landlord Nichols," 
took up the now conspicuous and flourishing farm of C. H. 
Maxham, wllere he .kept a public house. Having lost his wife 
in 1781, he m. the widow of Isaac Gale, and subsequently, set- 
tling his S., Henry, on the home place, removed to the "mill lot," 
and carried on the mills near the '' falls." Here he settled his 
S., Elijah, who built the house north of the falls, now occupied 
by Nathan Smith, and afterwards built upon the common next 
north of the Lee farm, where he d. 1856; as. 83; and was 
succeeded by his S., Lt. Joseph T. Nichols, who m. Martha G. 
D., of the widow Mary Turner. Henry Nichols, Sen., d. 1814. 
a?. 83 ; the ancestor of all the Nichols families now in town. 
His S. Henry, lately deceased, left the homestead to C. H. Maxham 
the present proprietor. Isaac, settled south of his brother 
Henry, on the place now owned by Francis Chase. His 
house stood a short distance from the present residence. He 
organized with the Cong. Ch. in 1766; was chosen Deacon in 
1781; and removed to Croydon, N. IL, about 1790. His S. 
Isaac is one of those who are claimed as the first horn of Roy- 



W 



114 

alston. Wc cannot enter 'into this controversy for precedence ; 
but the evidence is indubitable that the children of Royalston, 
in those days, did mightily increase. Rev. Arami Nichols, S. of 
the Deacon, born here, 1781, and who has been in the ministry 
upwards of GO years, was present and one of the Vice Presi- 
dents on Centennial Day. — The Dea. Nichols' place, after his re- 
moval from town was owned a few years by David, S. of " Land- 
lord Nichols." He sold to Abraham Eddy, whose father, BenJ., 
once lived on the place now owned by Wm. F. Bigelow, and 
who had several daughters that married in town, — Hannah m, 
Abijah Richardson, Sally m. Henry Nichols, Jr., Nancy m. Wil- 
lard Upham, father of Benjamin W. Upham, and Susannah ra. 
Daniel Hubbard. Abraham, the S. above named, m. Sarah D., 
of Lt. Francis Chase, built the house on the place lie l)ought of 
David Nichols, was succeeded by his S,. Gibbs W. who sold to 
Francis Chase, the present proprietor. William Nichols bought 
the place settled l)y Bezaleal Barton, and carried on both the 
farm, and the mill on the liawrcnce, west of his home. He went by 
the name of " Miller Nichols.'" When customers neecled him at 
the mill, they rang a bell, suspended upon the premises, the sig- 
nal for " Miller Nichols"' to leave his farm duties, and attend to 
the callers under the hill. 

Isaac Greyory, Lt. Esq. and Dea., settled east and adjoining 
the Henry Nichols place. He came from Templeton. This re- 
spected and useful citizen d. 1808, a\ 49. His S. Maj. Gen. 
Franklin Gregory, is commemorated on pages 62, 63. John P. 
Gregory, of Cambridge, was one of the Secretaries, and Charles 
A. Gregory, Esq. of Chicago, 111., made a stirring speech at the 
Centennial dinner table, — sons of Gen. Gregory. 

Along the road running east of the Gregory place, were sev- 
eral other early families. One, by the name of Armstrong, g-ave 
name to the stream, which crosses this road, and running north 
and then west, empties into the Lawrence. Timothy Armstrong, 
a soldier of the Revolution, and John Armstrong, who was killed 



115 

by the falling of a tree, Oct. 9, 1787, arc supposed to have been 
of this family. Abraham and Caesar Toney, colored men, owned 
a place east of Armstrong's, and each had a family. David and 
Simeon Stockwell, sons of Joseph, owned the next two farms ; 
and both are still represented among us by descendants. This 
road, however, is now discontinued, and no dwellings are to l>e 
found on these old localities. 

Silas Chase, S. of Rogers, settled the place next south of 
Francis Chase, receiving the north i)art of his father's farm. 
He was succeeded by his S., Joseph W. Chase, who has now 
settled his S., Joseph W. upon the larm. The house was lately 
rebuilt. 

Henry Bond, Delegate to the first Provincial Coiigress, 1774, 
and to the Concord Convention, 1779, settled next south, on the 
old road, lately "turned.'" He removed with his family, to 
Grafton, Vt., about 179-4:, and was succeeded immediately, or 
soon after, by David Lyon, who d. 1 80S, i,e. 70. Subsequently 
William Eddy, S., of Abraham, bought this place, and altei- the 
road was " turned," moved his house upon the new road farther 
south and built a new liarn. Hl' sold to Lyman W. Seaver. 
The house was burned in 1864, and has !if>t beesi rebuilt. 

Lt. Nathan BartleU, from Brookfield, settled next south ; was 
succeeded by his S.. Jonas, who m. Hannah, D., of Dea. -John 
Bacheller. He was succeeded by his S.. J(jhn N. Bartlett, the 
present proprieto;-. Nathan was a desceiulaiit of Henry, from 
Wales, who come to this country about 1700. and settled in 
Marlboro, and whose S.. IJenj'i). the immediate snuuvstor of 
Nathan, was one of the first settlers of Ibookhckl. 

Rogers Chase, from Sutton, settled west and adjoining the 
Bartlett farm. Plis S. Royal is referred to pages 80, 31. Mr. 
Chase sold the south part of his farm and the buildings thereon ; 
built on the north part; whore he d. 1814, ;«. 81. This place is 
now given up. 



116 

Joacph Stoclcwell, also from Sutton, was the purchaser of the 
south part of the Rogers Chase farm. He and liis wife d. 181G, 
a\ 86. and 87. Tiiey brought up a large family; several of 
their children settled in town, from whom have sprung the nu- 
merous families of this name. Their S., Judah, settled at home ; 
was succeeded by his S., Emmons, who m., Elvira, a sister of 
John Wood, Esq., and died in the prime of life. Their S., John 
W,, is the present proprietor, with whom lives his widowed 
mother. 

The place nearly south of this, is said to have been opened 
by one Putnam. It was bought by Capt. Sibley, who settled his 
son-in-law, Jonathan Pierce, upon it. He was succeeded by his 
S., Sibley, whose S., Sibley, responded to one of the Toasts at the 
Centennial dinner. Sibley sold to Columbus and John Pierce, 
the former a brother, and tlic latter a brother-in-law of Sibley 
Pierce. Columbus died, and John, who m. his sister, Susan, be- 
came sole proprietor. He is now living upon the place with his 
second wife, having m. Mrs. Charlotte Bryant, sister of his first 
wii'e, and mother of Rev. Albert Bryant, our Centennial Poet 
now a misssionary at Sivas, Turkey. 

Lt. Edward Holman, from Sutton, settled nearly midway be- 
tween Tarrant Cutler and Silas Jones, both of which places 
have already been illustrated. The cellar hole, on the west side 
of the road, marks the place of this sturdy old settler, He de- 
scended from a Welchman, who, with two brothers, all " impress- 
ed seamen" obtained a furlough from their ship to visit oui- 
shores, bnt nev(!r took the trouble to report themselves again to 
the Captain. 

This niay account for the gallantry of their race in our Revo- 
lution. Col. Holman, a Sutton man, commanded one of our 
Regiments,'^: — our settler was a kinsman and served as Lt. under 
him, — and tradition in the family s^ith, that the British used to 
say, 'they had as lief see the Devil a-comingas Col. Holman ot; 
his gray mare.' The Lt. came here with nine children, of whou-, 



117 

both sons aud daughters had large families in town. At present, 
Jiowever, Seth N. Holman is left alone, among the men of the 
town, to bear up the name. 

Thomas White, who m. Hannah Estabrook, sister of Joseph 
Estabrook, Esq., settled on a back road nearly east from Hol- 
man's. The family removed to West Boylston. Cyrus Hol- 
man, S. of John and grandson of Lt. Edward Holman bought 
the place. He was killed here while repairing the building; 
was succeeded by Luke Beals, who sold to Silas Bacheller, the 
present proprietor. ^ 

BenJ. Clark, from Abington, settled at the end of a short road 
south of Silas Jones. He m. Mehitable Edson of Bridgewater ; 
served two years in the war; was a '' singing master;" d. 1815, 
le. 66 ; his wife, 1841, se. 88 ; was succeeded by his S., Benj., who 
m. Susannah Dolbear, of Templeton, and d. 1833, as. 73. His 
widow, now in her 91st. year, lives with their S., Timothy, the 
present proprietor of this good farm. She attended the Cen- 
tennial. Several other sons of Benj. Sen., settled in town,^ — 
Edson, who succeeded Benj. Blanchard, and still lives on that 
place. Eber who settled east of Tarrant Cutler's, and m. Sally, 
D., of David Chase. She still survives him and lives in Fitch- 
burg, with her daughters ; and Samuel, who m. Miss Ward, of 
Athol, and settled next north of the Dexter place. 

Jon^n. Fiske, settled next south of Silas Jones' ; was succeeded 
by Dea. Amos Jones, brother of Silas. He removed to Putney 
Vt. where he lately died. Dea. Jonas W. Turner S., of Jaratli- 
mal, is now proprietor of the place. 

David Fiske, settled next south; sold to Col. Ebenezer Newel, 
from Brookfield, whose wife was Sarah Banister. They had 12 
children. He was a Revolutionary Soldier ; became a trader ; 
removed from town and d. in Bethel, Me. ae. 89. Rev. Ebenezer 
F. Newel, a sou, now in his 90th year, re-visited town in June 
last. Silas Hale Sen. bought this place, and settled his S.. 



118 

Stephen upon it. He was succeeded by his S., John W. Hale, 
the pi'esent proprietor. 

Josiah Wake, settled at the corner of the road south, where 
his ^reat-grandson. Jesse F. Wheeler, now lives ; d. 1885, «. 89 ; 
was succeeded by his grandson, the late (Jol. Josiah Wheeler, 
and father of Jesse F. 

Paul Wheeler, from Acton, m. Eunice, D., of Josiah Waite ] 
settled east and upon a portion of Waite's land. Josiah Wheeler 
was his S., by his first wife, Eunice ; by a second wife he had 
other children ; among them, Leonard, the " Village Blacksmith " 
in the middle of the town, and Nelson, who m. Rebecca, D., of 
the late Hon. Rufus Bullock. He graduated at Yale, 1836; 
taught ill Worcester ; became Professor in Brown University : 
and d. 1855, ai. 42, at his father-in-law's. Mrs. Wheeler, and 
the two surviving sons, reside in Worcester. 

Bcnfn. Bianchard, settled still farther east; and owned a large 
tract of land, including most of what is now covered by So. 
Royalston Village, and on, nearly to Winchendon line. He was 
(juitc a mechanical character ; invented a wheel with a register 
for measuring distances on the roads, and was often seen test- 
ing his wheel upon our highways. He built the first saw mill 
in So. Royalston, near where now stands S. S. Farrar's shop. 
Edson Clark succeeded him, and lives upon the fine site fronting 
the main street, but set back a little therefrom. His sons 
Ambrose and Lyman, live in the village, Ambrose next west of 
his father's. 

Silas Hale, settled south of the village at the corner oi' tiie 
Templeton and Phiiipston roads. He and his wife, Lydia Stow, 
were from Stowe. The farm used to belong to Phiiipston ; and 
has had a high reputation. The majestic elm, near the house, 
was set out by his S., Stephen, in 1790. He d. 1852. a.\ S.H ; 
and was succeeded by his S., Silas. The place is now in the 
hands of Anon StockweM, who m. one of the daughters of Silas 



119 

Hale Jr. Another D., m. Dr. Gould, for some years the physician 
of So. Royalston, who is now settled in Templeton. 

Cap. Enoch fVhitmore. from Acton, m. Sally, I)., of Josiali 
Waite, and settled north of the Village, not far from school- 
house, No. 9. He served seven years in the War. His I)„ Sally 
m'. Timothy Lewis Esq. The captain, at length, removed to the 
Village and lived near his son-in-law ; where he d. 1 844, a?. 84. 
The old place was discontinued. His son-in-law was drowned 
iu 1853, while attempting to rescue a child from the river. His 
widow still lives in the Village. Two of the sons arc minister?!, 
Joseph W., and Timothy Willard, — the latter superintendent of 
the Methodist IMissior.s in the " Department of the South." with 
his residence in Charleston, S. C. Two other sons, John and 
Enoch T. reside in Athol. 

The White and Fisher place, so called, above Capt. Wliil- 
more's, and nearly opposite School House No. 9. was earl} owned 
if not settled, by Isaac Whilmore, who afterwards bought Moses 
Town's farm. He sold to Stephen, S. of Lt. Edward Holman. 
After the death of Stephen Holman, a Mr. White, and Crom- 
well Fisher bought the farm and it is still known as the White 
and Fisher place. Stephen Tolman's first settlement was at the 
corner of the road east of the school house. His S., Rev. Sid- 
ney Holman, was present and one of the Vice Pi-esidents on 
Centennial day. He made a good speech at the table. Harriet, 
one of the daughters of Mr. Holman, m. Solyman Heywood, and 
still lives in town. The youngest S., Steplicn, graduated at 
Williams College. 1 839. Dea. Simeon Stockwell bought this 
place. He m. Ruth Piper, who, since his death, m. Elisha 
Childs. and still lives with him on the place. 

Isaac Norcross, settled north of this last place; d. 1817, and 
was succeeded by his S., Dea. Joseph, who was succeeeded by 
his S., James Norcross, the present proprietor. 

Josiah Piper, Jr., settled on this road, some distance north of 
Norcross ; ra. Molly, D. of Capt. Gad Pierce. He and his neph- 



120 

cws, Capt. Jonas and Capt. George Pierce, are tlie three. 
teamsters, retorred to page Gl. Ho built a second house on the 
place and settled his S., Luke, with him; d. 1837, a). 70. His 
S., Luke, lately deceased, leaving the place to his S. Ch. J. Piper, 
the present proprietor. 

Josiah Piper, Sen., settled south of school-house No. 9. 
m. a sister of Capt. Isaac Davis of Acton, who fell at the head of 
his men, in the Battle of Concord. His S., Isaac m. Jerusha Ly- 
on, and lived in this neighborhood awhile, but ultimately removed 
from town. 

Arha Sherwin,w\\o\\\'QS south of this last named place, bought 
of Capt. Jonas Pierce. The place, as we understand, was tirst 
opened by Rufus Forbush, who sold to William, father of Capt. 
Jonas. Capt. Jonas afterwards bought the Lt. Allen place; 
sold to Obadiah W. (Joddard, and bought of his l)rother, Capt. 
George Pierce, the pjace now owned by Barnot IJuliock. Es([., 
formerly the John and then the Dea. Seth Holman place. 

Isaac Gale, S. of the original settler of this name, settled ou 
the road that turns west, a little below the Sherwin place. He 
m. Elizabeth, d. of Jonathan Cutler; and was succeeded by his 
S. Otis, who lately died. The place now owned by 0. Percival 
Gale. 

Isaac Gale, S. of the Isaac above named, settled near the cor- 
ner of the road that tur.is east, still farther below Sherwin's. 
He m. Rhoda, D. of Capt. Joseph .Facobs. He has settled his S.. 
0. Hartwell, with him. 

Asa Turner, from Gralton, settled on this road next b(^yond 
Gale's. His S. Jarathmal, succeeded him. He m. Jerusha I)., 
of Joseph Manning, and died upon this place. 

Joseph Manning, settled the next place upon this road. His 
D. Susannah, m. Dea. Lemuel Newton, of Phillipstoii, who died 
a few years ago, and she now lives in So. Royalston. Abel 
Manning, merchant of Fitchburg, was born on this place. 

Dea. IscLOc Stockwell, m. Melindaj D., of Asa Turner, and 
bought the Manning, and part of the Forbush farms. His S., 



121 

Elmond now lives upon this place ; his S., Edmond resides in the 
village of So. Royalston, and is proprietor in the paint, and l»rush 
wood shops there ; while Anon, another P., who m. a D., of Silas 
Hale, resides near the Hale farm, of which he is now the propri- 
etor. 

David Forhnsh, settled the last farm on this road, within the 
bounds of Royalston. He was succeeded by his S., Heman. who 
still resides on the place : as docs also Betsy Forbush. D.. of 
David, now in her 8()th. year. 

Deii. Isaac EsUj, settled the first place west of the comnio;:. 
near the foot of Jacob's hill so called. He was one of the eight 
persons who "embodied" with the 1st Baptist Church of Royal- 
ston. 1768, and became its first deacon; was a man of consider- 
able property and a highly respected citizen. His aged Motlici- 
came to town with him; rode in a chaise, which it required 
several men to steady and help over the obstructions of the way. 
She was the first adult female that died in Royalston. Dea. 
Jacob Esty succeeded his father upon the farm and in the 
deaconship. He m. Sarah. D. of Simeon Chambei'lain ; d. 1 829 
a\ 86, his wife, the same year, *. 80. He was succeeded l)y 
Capt. Joseph Jacobs, from Athol. who m. Sarah Bragg, and who. 
planted the avenue of maples that adorn the hill, and shad<' the 
road above this ancient house. After his death the j)!ace was 
held by the family ; but has now lately been sold by Jolin W. 
(ireen, who m. Olive. D., of Ca})t. Jacobs. Neither the Esty, nor 
the Captain's name is now upheld in town, by tlieir descendants ; 
but the Jacobs Hill remains a fixture among us ; and \\w long 
lines of maples flourish and mark the landscape from afar. 

Asa Jones, settled S. W.. of this place, on the borders of Long 
Fond. The farm is now a pasture, and the buildings gone. He 
was the first Scribe of the Baptist Ch. One of his sons became 
an eminent Baptist minister. 

Simeon Chamberlain, from Sutton, settled next north of Esty's. 
His house stood in the barn-lot, and not far from the baru, as the 



122 

buildings are now arranged. He " embodied" with the Baptist 
Church in 1768 ; was tlie first male teacher that drew pay from 
the town, receiving an order for 18 shillings, " for two weeks 
schooling" in 17()9. His D., Mary, drew 4s. 9d. 2qrs. " for 
keeping school two weeks, " the same year. He d. 1779, js. 77 ; 
was succeeded by his S., John, who was thrice married, 1st to 
Mary Elliot; 2d, to Hannah Pratt; and 3d. to the Widow 
Holden, whose S., John Holden, succeeded to the place. He 
sold to his brother, Jonathan, the present proprietor. The hous^^ 
now stands on the east side of the road, not far from the cor:u r, 

Caj't. Pelatiah Mctcalf, from Wrentham. settled next noi-th ; 
m. Lydia, 1)., of Dca. Isaac Esty ; built a saw-mill on the site of 
the mill now owned by Nathaniel (xreely : established a [)Otash ; 
was an active business man, and a prominent citizen. He d. 
suddenly, 1807, a3. 62. His S., Capt. Isaac, succeeded him; sold 
to his brother, Jacob, who lately died upon the place, whicli 
since, has been sold to Horatio Brewer, the present proprietor. 
Enoch, another S., settled farther north. His S., C. B. Metcalf, 
A. M. is Principal of the "Highland School," Worcester. 
Another S., Isaac N. is *' Teacher of Vocal and Instrumental 
Music," in the same school. Dr. Pelatiah Metcalf, S., of Capt. 
Pelatiah, lives in Woonsocket, R. I. in his 81st year. 

Michael Grant, settled next north. The first person, whose 
death appears on the Records, was his Si, Stephen, who was 
buried " amid the pines under the hill." (rraiit sold to Obadia!) 
Walker Jr. He was succeeded by his S., Asa, who m. Anstis, I)., 
Capt. Joseph Jacobs, and d. 1 860, 3d. 82. His widow, and S.. 
Joseph, still live in town. The place has lately been sold out 
of the family. 

Aaron Grant, settled next north, was a good farmer ; persist- 
ed in wearing " small clothes," dispensing with the long stock- 
ings, knee-buckles, and shoes, through all but the winter months. 
He m. for his second wife, widow Sarah Morse, D. of Capt. 
Jonas Parker, of Lexington and Revolutionary memory. Her 



123 

sister Betsey, m. Michael Periy, whose D. Betse3',m. Samuel Morse, 
the present proprietor of the Dea. Bacheller place, and whose 
D. is the wife of Wm. H. Emerson. Grant was succeeded by 
his S., Aaron, whose widow, and S., Aaron, held the place some 
years after his death. They now live upon the common, and 
the place is owned by Lyman Carroll. 

Henry Goddard, from Athol, settled north ; sold to his brother, 
Nahum Goddard, who m. Sally, D., of William Pierce. He sold 
to his son-in-law, Capt. Cyrus B. Reed, the present proprietor. 
His S., Sandford, and his S. from Orange, Hon. Davis Goddard, 
were present at the Centennial, — the latter as a Vice President. 

Squier Davis, S., of Lt, John Davis, settled next north ; set- 
tled his S. John upon the place, and removed to the Fuller place. 
He afterwards lived and died with his S., Joseph, dying 1854, 
ae. 92. John sold to Hon. George Whitney and removed to the 
west, where lie soon after died. The place is now owned b}' 
Cyrus P. and William G. Reed, sons of Capt. C. B. Reed ; hav- 
ing been carried on for the several years past by the fn-st named 
{)roprietor. 

Stephen Raymond, S. of Edward, settled next north; m. Rho- 
da, sister of Joseph Estabrook, Esq. ; brought up his family upon 
place, and died here ; was succeeded by his S., James ; he sold 
to Sandford Goddard ; removed to Keene, but now resides in 
Brooklyn, N. Y. He was present and one of the A^ice Presi- 
dents, on Centennial occasion. His brothei- Joseph Raymond, 
Rsq.. re'^idin'2; upon the common, is the o:i'y member of Stephen 
lijiymond's family, now in town. 

Joseph Davis, S. of Squier, is the proprietor of the next place, 
now including most of the Raymond farm. IV^r. Davis is one of 
oiir largest land holders, and is still a hale and laborious farmer. 
Enoc.h Metcalf formerly owned the original place, which had, 
perliaps, been already opened pr(n-iously to his pfu'chasc. 

James Forbes, formei'ly McForbes, settled next north, a'ld at 
the extremity of this iono- range of high and ii;oM\ land ri>ing 



124 

(Vom the Ttilly, and confrontini>: tlie equally elevated ran<re on 
the opposite, or western side of the river, — from its excel- 
lence, as pasture land, called (loshen. James Forbes was suc- 
ceeded by his S., James, who sold to his S. John, who died in 
the late war. Joseph Davis now owns this farm. 

Ebenezer Blaiiding, after settling a place near " the city," so 
called, opened a farm, N. W. from the last place, and near the 
point where the road, after crossing the Tully and ascending the 
opposite hill, turns to the north. He sold to Calvin Forbes, S. 
of James Sen, Forbes is dead, and his family have all left 
town ; but his name still adheres to this locality and the " Falls" 
west of his house, notwithstanding Professor Hitchcock proposed 
another and more characteristic name. — Royal Cascade. 

Joseph Hix, or Hicks, as now written, settled next north ; he 
soon sold to the father of the present proprietor, Luther Ballon. 
The latter m. a daughter of Capt. Joseph Davis; brought up 12 
children, all of whom have settled out of town ; and now he and 
his wife have closed their house, and are, for the present residing 
with some of their children in Winchendon. It is rumored, 
however, that this fine old place is to be fitted up as a Summer 
Retreat for those who seek country life, rejuvenation, relax- 
ation, or healthful pleasure during the heated term of the year. 
It is a splendid place for such an enterprise ; accessible from the 
Cheshire R* R. ; in the immediate neighborhood of the Royal 
Cascade, and environed by wild and romantic country scenery. 
Suitable buildings, properly appointed and kept, would doubtless 
secure an ample patronage. Large numbers, even now, without 
attractions other, than those that nature furnishes, annually visit 
this interesting locality. We hope the " rumor " may speedily 
pass into a consummated fact. 

Hicks, after selling this place, bought of one Stockwell a n«!W 
settlement between the Forbes* hills north of the road, a short 
distance back of which and upon the Tully, he [)ut up a grist 
and saw mill. These are now dismantled, and the place deserted. 



125 

Returning to Capt. Metcalf s place, and passing west, by tlie 
road, part of the way still open, and then tlirougli the fields, 
woodland and pastures to the S. W., we come to the site of 
Thomas Chamherlain, from Sutton, and brother of Simeon. His 
buildings were on the first hard land, north of Long Pond, and 
between the Tully and the Saw-mill brook, so called. His 
wife, Charity, and his S., Thomas, " embodied " with the Baptist 
Ch, In this family the town boarded the first person requiring 
public aid. The original settler and his wife died upon this 
place, and were buried in the grave-yard near by. They were 
succeeded by their S., Thomas, who however, did not long remain. 
The place has long been given up. 

Elisha Rich, supposed also to have come from Sutton, settled 
about half a mile north of the last named place. His house 
stood east of the Tully, opposite the first bridge north of Long 
Pond. He is referred to on page 42. The Proprietors, in 1771 
gave him the title to '^ settlers lot " 27, containing 200 acres, "he 
having settled two families thereon, and in all respects done and 
performed the duty of two settlers on said lot." He also owned 
a lot, bordering on the N. W. corner of Pierpont's Grant, and 
adjoining the State line. Mr Rich, early removed from town, 
laboring in several places, and gathering and leading Baptist 
churches, until at length, he was ordained, Oct. 5th, 1774, by 
the church in Chelmsford, being, according to Barker's History, 
the first Baptist Church organized in Middlesex Co. The house 
of Elder Rich, after some years, was occupied by Uzziah Green 
as a tavern. It was in this immediate vicinity, on the west side 
of the Tully, that the first Baptist meeting house in town was 
built. It is referred to on pages 41, 42 ; and there was here, 
so to speak, the second center of the town — with its meeting 
house, tavern and burial lot. But after the union of the Bap- 
tists of Royalston and Warwick, and the building of their new 
house of worship, in the west part of the town, this once popu- 
lated and pleasant neighborhood, went to decay, the old road 



126 

was •riven up, these ancieiit buil(liiio;s one by one disappeared, 
and at len<2:tli the biiryinj)^ <ii;round of the f'athei's was lost to sight, 
and almost to memory, amid the usurpintr forest. 

Returning- north to the now travelled road, and passing west, 
we come to the settlement of Joslr/m Denn, now the property of 
Dexter Underwood. He l)uilt west of the present site upon tlie 
old road; ))ecame quite wealthy ; and at length removed to New 
York state with his S., Joshua. His S., Jeremiali, built the saw 
mill, now enlarged and fitted up with modern machinery. His 
D. Hannah, m. Benj, Perry. She resided in town till recently, 
and her D. Flora, m. Joseph L. Perkins, who resides upon the 
homestead of his father. Rev. Ebenezer Perkins. 

Andrew Kendall^ Esq., settled the next place west ; but sold 
and removed to the Peleg Kingsley place, west of the old 
Baptist common, where he died. James Walker, S. of Elijah, 
bought the Kendall farm ; m. Sally, I), of Jonas Brewer, Sen., 
and lately died upon the place. His widow, now 86, was pres- 
ent at the Centennial, and resides with her S. Moses Walker, 
the present proprietor. 

Russell Wheeler, widely known as Dr. Wheeler, from his ex- 
tensive practice as a veterinarian, settled next west of Walker's. 
He lost 5 children by the prevalent epidemic in 1795, — all he then 
had. He himself d. 1825, aged 59.; was succeeded by his S. 
Capt. Russell Wheeler ; who sold to his brother Benj., the present 
proprietor. His house was burned in 1852, and has not been 
rebuilt. He now resides in So. Royalston ; his farm being main- 
ly turned out to pasturage. 

Silvanus Bliss, from Rehoboth, settled next west of Wheeler ; 
was active in bringing about the union of the Baptists in Royal- 
ston and Warwick, and in obtaining the Act of incorporation in 
1807. He removed fr(mi town, and was succeeded by Abel 
Bliss, S. of Nathan, and father of the Nathan Bliss who is the 
present occupant ; and also of Harrison Bliss, of Worcester, one 
of our Vice Presidents on Centennial Dav. 



127 

Nathan Bliss, brother of Silvanus, settled next west. He was 
in the Revolutionary War; d. 18r)2, jc. 90; his wife, 1.SG2, a\ 
97. The house is now tenantless. 

West of this is '' the city," so called. Here were built, in 
1802, two public houses of considerable pretensions for those 
days, one of them had a store attached. Capt. Peleg Kingsley 
built one of these houses, now the dwcllhig house of Gardner 
and Moses Garfield ; and Asahel Davis, the other ; now supplant- 
ed by the new residence of Benj. Bufluni. Here, too, stands the 
third meeting house of the Baptist Church, and school house. No. 
?> ; all of which may justify the old familiar designatio)i of this 
neighborhood, — " tlic city." 

Lewis Horton. the first settler west of the TuUy, located north 
of where the present Baptist meeting house stands. He was 
fi-om Relioboth, and died young. The old road by his settle- 
ment has been turned, and the buildings are gone. 

Ebenczer Dlandivg, also from Relioboth, settled north of this 
place; sold to his brother, Shubel, and settled the Calvin 
Forbes' farm, so called. Shuliel m. the widow of Horton, and 
annexed his farm to his own, — now known as the Graves' place. 
He out-lived three wives, and d. 1832, se 81. His S., Shubeb 
i)ecame a physician, settled in South Carolina, and died shortly 
before the out-break of the late Rebellion, being at the time of 
his death, a citizen of Charleston. 

Eliphalet Rogers, a lineal descendant, in the fourth or fifth 
generation, of the martyr, John Rogers ; bought a place, newly 
begun by one Drake, and settled next north of Blanding's. He 
was thrice married, and had a large family of children. 

Dea. Moulton Bidlock, from Rehoboth, took up the place next 
north. Came into town before the Revolution ; was a highly 
respected citizen, and for many years Dea. of the Baptist Ch. ; 
d. 1818, a?. 75; his wife, Oct. 11, 1806. This place is now 
owned by Horace, S. of Jason Fisher. 



128 

Hugh Bullock, came in duriiit!: the Revolution, and settled 
north of his brotlier Moulton, whore he lived till his sons grew 
up, left the farm and en,i;a,o-ed in other business, when he 
built on the common west ot his S. Barnet's house, where Ch. H. 
Newton now lives; and died there 1837, a?. 85. His wife Re- 
becca d. 1809, le. 50. Hugh Bullock was one of the company 
that started for Saratoga, to repel the invasion of Burgoyne. 
Of the children of this family. Rufus, Moulton, Calvin, Barnet 
and Candicc, only the two last survive. 

Lt. John Davis, Samuel Fuller, and Lt. John Foster, all from 
Rehoboth, removed to town in 1778, each with a family of eight 
children, and settled in this part of the town. Davis next north 
of Hugh Bullock, Fuller north of Davis, and Foster on the farm 
now owned by Rev. Silas Kenney. Fuller and Foster ultimately 
removed from town. Davis remained. Eleven of his children had 
families of their own, several of whom settled in town. His 
sons, Squier, John, Jr., and Sylvester, served in the war. John 
Davis d. 1794, a?. 58; and is represented by all of that name in 
town. His wife d. 183-2, «. 92. 

Ebenezer Ingalls, settled east of the grave yard, in this section. 
The road used to run by his farm ; but is now changed and the 
farm given up. 

Christopher, Ebenezer, Nathan and David BullocJi, cousins of 
Dea. Moulton, and Hugh Bullock, bought of the Prop's, about 
1770, lots 77, 79, and 80, containing 345 1-2 acres, at 8s per 
acre. These lots lay in the extreme N. W. corner of the town, 
covering the modern iarms of Martin Hardy, Adriel White, and 
the late Capt. Joseph Bliss. They were all stalwart men, — Da- 
vid the tallest man in town. Their tarry was not very long ; 
for when they had their places well opened, and before they had 
yet lost the vigor of manhood, like one of Irving's characters, 
they shouldered their axes, and were off again for a new coun- 
try ; taking York State in their way. 



129 

David Fisher, from Attleboro' settled south of this purchase, 
and adjoining the late Capt. Bliss place. He was a man of 
strong mind, somewhat eccentric, but a good School master. An 
earnest opponent of the old law, requiring every one to pay for 
the support of religious worship, — he became a leader of the 
"Free Donation Society," referred to page 44; after the repeal 
of that law he became a regular contributor in sustaining the 
institutions of the Gospel. He d. 1850, a\ 87; his wife the 
year following, ss. 8G. Their S., Jason, now occupies the place. 

The next place south is now occupied by Rev. Silas Kenney, 
a native of Sutton, and formerly pastor of the 1st. Baptist 
Church, and a highly respectable citizen, referred to page 41, 
This place, opened at first by Lt. John Foster, has been occupied 
l)y several Ba])tist clergymen, before the Rev. Mr. Kenney be- 
came its proprietor. 

Daniel Peck, from Rehoboth, first settled where Harvey W. 
Bliss now lives ; but subsequently exchanged with Timothy Bliss, 
Jr., for the place where Dea. Ebenezer Fierce lately died. 
Here he d. 1814. x. 78, and his wife, 1832, se. 77. They had 
children, and have been numerously, and are still represented 
in town by descendants. 

John FccJc, settled on the S. E. corner of the roads that inter- 
sect, a short distance south of his brother Daniel's first settle- 
ment. He was author of a Poem on Universalism, which passed 
through several editions, and has lately, with some other pieces, 
l)een reproduced by John P. Jewett, & Co. Boston, and H. P. B. 
Jewett, Cleveland, 0. When his large family had grown up, he 
removed with them to Vermont, Stephen Gates succeeded him ; 
and the place is now occupied by his S., Whitman Gates. 

The meeting house, built by the united Baptist churches and 
societies of Royalston and Warwick, stood on the open space at 
the N. W. corner of these intersecting roads ; referred to page 
42, hence, the still popular designation of this locality, — " the 
old Baptist common." 



180 

Peleg Kingdeij, from llehoboth, lirst settled the place west 
of this common, on the Warwick road, where Daniel Pock died. 
He was one of the earliest settlers in this part of the town : 
was a blacksmith; brought np a larjre family. It was his S. 
Capt. Pelejr Ivingsley, who built one of the public houses at 
the city, already mentioned. This family is not now represented 
in town. Timothy Bliss, Jr., followed on this place ; he was 
succeeded by Daniel Peck. After him came Andrew tendall, Esq.' 
formerly proprietor of the Moses Walker place. He was suc- 
ceeded by Dea. Ebenezer Pierce, who d. 18G.'3, aj. 08. This farm 
has lately been purchased by a Mr. Whitney. 

Timothy Bliss, from llehobath, settled opposite of tlio last 
named farm, a short distance south of the road. He raised up 
a large family, and settled his S., Isreal, with him on the home- 
stead where he also had a lamily of 11 children. This last family 
removed to New York State ; and the place became incor})oratc 
with other farms. The buildings are now gone. The original 
proprietor, when he first came to town, made a purchase of GOO 
acres, which must have covered a part of the Moore Grant. He 
d. 1822, 38. 89. His S., Timothy, m. Tammy Waite, and settled 
at first opposite his fatlicr's on the place last named, which he 
afterwards exchanged, as has been stated, with Daniel Peck. 
On his last place he was succeeded by his S., Daniel, who m, 
Harriet, D., of Lt. Daniel Peck; d. 1863, ae. 66; and was suc- 
ceeded by his S., Harvey W. Aaron Bliss, S., of the original 
settler, m. Molly Woodbury; bought the Peleg Jennings farm, 
south of the Baptist Common ; brought up a family there, and d. 
1849, ai. 96. His S., Benj'n. W, Bliss, is the present proprietor. 

Abiel Briggs, about 1 770, bought of the Prop's, the 200 acres, 
originally a part of the Moore Grant, and of which mention is 
made on p. 28. His farm lay south, and adjoining, the last 
named. He sold to Ebenezer Bullock ; who sold to Lt. Daniel 
Peck, S., of Daniel already illustrated. Lt. Peck m. Dilly, D,. 
of Isaac Gale, Sen. ; had a family of 4 sons and 9 daughters, 



131 

several of whom settled in town. His S., Sullivan succeeded 
him on the place, and still owns it. His D., Harriet, m. Daniel 
Bliss, and still lives with her S., Harvey W. Bliss. His son 
Lyman, settled south of " the city," where his S., Philander, now 
lives. Another D., Delia, m. Capt. Georare Peirce, who resides 
upon the common in the middle of the town. Chauncy, S., of 
Lt. Peck, residino; in Boston, was one of the Vice Presidents on 
the day of our late Anniversary. 

Jonathan Gale, brother-in-law of Lt. Peck, m. Rhoda Baker, 
and settled next south, of the Peck place. His farm adjoined 
Warwick on the west, and Orange on the south. He was a 
Revolutionary Soldier, m. for his second wife, Susannah Matthews, 
who still lives near the old Baptist common, and draws a pension 
by virtue of her husband's services. This place is now the 
property of Hiram Harrington, whose wife is a grand-daughter 
of Nathan Cutting, one of the first settlers, Isaac Gale, S., of 
Jon'n, m. Tamah, D., of Sam'l. Goddard, and died on the Matthew's 
place. The family have now all removed from town. S. C. 
Gale Esq. of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Rev. Amory Gale, 
were of this family. 

Nathan Goddard, from Shrewsbury, bought a large tract south 
of the Gale place ; built a public house, tannery and saw mill 
and carried on an extensive business. From the incorporation 
of Royalston, till this S. W. corner of the town was set off to 
form a part of Orange, Mr. Goddard was an active and respected 
citizen here. He m. Dorothy Stevens of Petersham, and d. 
1806, 83. 81. 

Returning to the Baptist common, and taking the road to the 
middle of the town, we come to the place opened by Lt. Samuel 
Goddard, from Sutton. He built a tannery on the stream west 
ol his house, which has been quite an extensive establishment; 
but is now discontinued, and the buildings mostly gone. He 
brought up a family of 10 children, and d. 1808, ae. 64; was 
succeeded by his S., Salmon, who continued and enlarged his 



132 

fatlicr's business ; became Colonel, Esquire and Deacon ; honored 
all his public offices, and died highly respei^ted, at the age of 58. 
His S., Salmon, now occupies the place. 

Junas Brewer, from Shrewsbury, settled next east. His par- 
ents came to town, and lived with him. The father, William, d. 
1796, JB. 90; the mother, 1800, a\ 90. Jonas m. Elizabeth 
Garfield; brought up a family of 8 or 9 children; d. 1817, a?. 
65; his widow m. Dea. Ammi Falknor, and d. 1838, ae. 86. 
The original settler was succeeded by his !S., Jonas, who has 
settled his S., Lewis, with iiim. Another S., Horatio, now owns 
the Capt. Pclatiah Metcalf place. 

Jonathan Matthews, from Rehoboth, settled on the road leading 
south from the Brewer farm. He died, leaving a widow, his 
aged mother, Mrs. Susannah Carpenter, — named on p. 61. — and 
three daughters, Susannah, Hannah, and Lucy, and but small 
means for their support. Mrs. Carpenter out-lived her daughter- 
in-law, and died at the age of 105, mainly supported, and tenderly 
cared for, to the last, by her grand-daughters. They now live 
together in a house adjoining the Baptist common, ail well 
stricken in years, but held in remembrance for their filial duty to 
their aged and dependant grandmother. 

Joshua Garjield, from Shrewsbury, bought of one Wells, who 
had lately opened the next })lace on this road. Here he brought 
up a large family of children ; and was succeeded by his S.. 
Moses ; whose sons, Gardner and Moses, live at " the city." 

Solomon Peck, brother of John and Daniel, settled at the end 
of this road ; brought up a family of 13 children ; was succeeded 
by liis S., Benoni, Peck Esq. Here he, too, brought up a family 
of 10 children, who successively settled out of town; and now, 
lately, the Esquire himself has removed to Fitzwilliam, N. H., leav- 
ing this once populous road entirely deserted. Esq. Peck was Lt. 
in the company called out from Royalston, for the defence of 
Boston, in the last war witii England, and afterwards commanded 
the company. He was much engaged in Justice and Probate busi- 



133 

ness and his antiquarian researches have been of great service in 
the preperation of this Memorial of his native town. 

Returning to the Brewer place, from thence east to '• the city." 
and on the Athol road south, we come to the farm settled, at first, 
by one Harris, sold by him to Cyrus Bassett, who established, 
and for some time carried on, a tannery here and died upon the 
place. It is now the property of Jarvis Davis Esq. S., of Capt. 
Joseph Davis, who was S., of Lt. John Davis. Esq. Davis has 
recently settled with him, his son-in-law, Adriel C. S., of Adriel 
White. 

Jonathan Bosworth, settled the place next south. He was ances- 
tor of all the Bosworths in town; d. 1801, se. 88; was succeeded 
by his S., Ichabod. The place, after passing through the hands 
of several other proprietors, became the property, and is now 
occupied by Marshall Herrick, 

Ephraim Hill, and Elijah Walker, vpho received their farms Irom 
,Ionah Hill, father of Ephraim, and father-in-law of Walker, lived 
on a road that turns to the west from the Athol road, a little 
south from the last named place. Hill m. a sister of Walker. 
He d. 1826, *. 65; his wife 1841, jb. 80; leaving one son and 
five daughters. The place is now owned by Elijah Walker, a 
grandson of the Walker who first settled the adjoining farm. 
Walker who m. Abigail Hill, was succeeded by his S., Willard, 
whose widow m. Israel Lamb, who succeeded Willard Walker 
on the place. He has now settled Geo. 0. Richardson on his 
farm. = He m. a D., of Willard Walker ; and is the S., of the 
present Mrs. Benoni Peck Esq., formerly Mrs. Melinda Richard- 
son^ the second wife of Abijah Richardson. 

Elisha White, from Orange, settled on the Lemuel Whitney 
place, about a half mile south of Walker's. White raised up a 
large family herp; d. 1811, a). 58 ; his widow married again and 
d. 1850, ae, 94. Adriel White, who lives on a farm within the 
purchase of David Bullock and brothers, is a S., of Elisha White: 



134 

and has lately settled his S.. Asaph, with him. The Elisha White 
place is now deserted. 

John Stockwell, and John Turner, had each a farm east of the Hill 
and Walkei- farms ; but they are gone and their places merged 
in other farms. 

Daniel Warren, settled the farm on the Athol road, next south 
of this side road. He sold to Capt. Joseph Davis, father of 
Jarvis Davis Esq. who d. hero ; and was succeeded by Lyman 
Peck, lately deceased. The place is now owned by Philander 
S., of Lyman Peck. 

Daniel Warren, also opened the next place south : which after- 
wards came into the possession of a Mr. Pratt, and is still owned 
by Daniel Pratt, a resident of Petersham. 

Paul Ellis, a School Teacher, and licensed Baptist preacher 
commenced a place next south ; sold to Levi Thurston, who after- 
wards was a deacon in the Cong'l Church, and died on the place, 
at an advanced age. The place is now given up. 

Elnathan Jacobs, S., of Elder Whitman Jacobs, settled and erected 
the buildings still standing on the road that turns to the east, 
just south of the Thurston place ; sold to Timothy AVhitney ; and 
Whitney to Capt. Asahel Davis, S., of Lt. John Davis, and father of 
Cyrus, and Daniel. He m. Deborah Mason; and d. here 1859 
se. 84; his wife. 1860 ae. 81. He built one of the public houses 
in " the city." His S., Daniel is the present proprietor of this 
place. 

Asa Clark, settled next south on the Atbol road ; now owned by 
Dea. Francis Jacobs, S., of Dea. Thomas Jacobs. 

Ehenezer Elliot, S., of the Elliot who originally settled on the 
common, opened a farm a little west of the road, next south; 
sold to Elder Moses Kenny, who d. here 1800, ae. 47. He was suc- 
ceeded upon the place by Dea. Thomas Jacobs, S., of Elder 
Whitman Jabobs; d. 1849, sb. 69, and was succeeded by his S., 
Whitman, the present proprietor. 



135 

Uzziah Green, S., of Nahum, of Revolutionary memory, settled 
next south ; sold to Elder Simoon Jacobs, and opened a tavern 
on the place formerly owned by Elisha Rich. Elder Jacobs wag 
succeeded l)y his S., Simeon, who died leaving a family of 9 sons- 
the eldest but 17. Several of these sons settled abroad and pros- 
pered in life, some as professional men and some as merchants. 
This place, now furnished with good buildings, is the property of 
Cyrus Davis, one of our prominent and active citizens. 

The site of David Chase's "first settlement was south of this 
place, on the east side of the road, and a short distance north of 
school house No. 8. His house was burned, and he removed and 
settled with his father, Jjt. Francis Chase. 

Jonhi. Shepardi^on, from Templeton, settled next south ; left his 
place to his S. John, who sold to David Cook, and Son. David 
Cook, the father, d. 1844, a\ 91. He drew the pension of an 
orderly Sergeant. David Cook, Jr., died the same year, and 
left the place to his S. Caleb A. Cook, Esq., who recently sold to 
llev. Lorenzo Tandy, pastor of the Baptist Church. 

Daniel Sheimrdson. S. of Jon'n. settled the next place south. 
He d. 1856, jb. 80; his wife, 1850, le. 78. They had 7 children. 
Rev. Daniel Shepardson, of Cincinnati. 0., and Rev. John Shep- 
ardson of Petersham being of the number. Their S. Eri, now 
owns the place. 

Isaac Shepardson, also S. of Jon'n, settled next south, nearly 
opposite the residence of Luke Bemis. This place is now 
known as the Ruggles' place. 

Joshua Doanc, from Cape Cod, settled next south ; and brought 
up a family of children on the place, of whom a S., Amos, and a 
D, the wife of Joel 0. Flagg, have families in town. He died 
at his son's, Simeon Doane, in the N. E. part of the town ; and 
the place was bought by Samuel, S. of Bcnj. Clark. He d. 
1858, ae. 65. His widow lives here with G. C. Chaphi, who m. 
her daughter. This farm now has new and good buildings, 
finely located. 



Barney Paine, from Athol opened the next and last early set- 
tlement on this road, within our limits ; built a saw mill on the 
Tully south of his house ; sold to Lemuel Whitney, and he to 
Kbenezer W. Dexter, who m. Cynthia, D. of Moses Walker, re- 
built the saw mill and erected the present handsome residence. 
Mr. Dexter d. suddenly 18G0, «. 80. His widow lives upon the 
place with her S. Bela. 

Reuben Futtiam, settled on the place now owned by Stephen 
A. Burbank ; sold to James Dexter from Grafton, father of 
Ebenezer, who, when advanced in life, sold to John Burbank 
from Oakham, and removed to his son's, where he died. John 
Burbank was succeeded by his S. Stephen A., the present pro- 
prietor. Rev. Perr\- Burbank, S. of John, now resides in 
Sutton. 

Aaron Putnam, and a Mr. Brown, had early and neighborinj:; 
habitations westwardly from Burbank's. They both sold out to 
Moses Walker, from Athol, about 1790. Mr. Walker, m. Lydia 
Bigelow, of Sutton. He left his place to his S., John B. lately 
deceased. The widow of Moses died upon this place 1864, ae. 
93. The widow of Jghn B. and the family now reside in 
Keene, N. H. 

The old road continued on north by the Walker place on the 
west side, and at no great distance from the Tully and Long Pond, 
to the first Baptist meeting house, and thence into the Royalston 
and Warwick road. Along this old road were several early 
families, and among them those of Michael, and Enos Metcalf, 
Ijrothors of Captain Pelctiah Metcalf Enos m. a D. of Elder 
Whitman Jacobs ; and was long a Deacon in the Baptist Church. 
Daniel Mosman lived in this vicinity, near the north end of Long 
Pond. He removed from town, and the house was burned in 
1814. His S. Daniel, returned from Wilmington, Vt. and m. 
Betsey Metcalf. Another 8. born here, is a retired merchant in 
Boston. 



141 

He served the town in various offices, as his other business 
allowed ; and brought to the discharge of all public trusts the 
same maxims and principles, as those by which he conducted his 
own private affairs. 

In politics he was no changeling, in morals and religion no 
latitudinarian, though catholic, and without l)igotry. His read- 
ing was select, and of the deepest and broadest thinkers. He 
retained with much accuracy, and quoted with aptness, both sen- 
timents and language, which had approved themselves to his 
judgment, gratified his taste, or touched his heart. He rever- 
enced the Bible, and studied it deeply, and with growing interest. 
He loved the old doctrines, and read the old divines, who, as he 
believed, most profoundly entered into the spirit, and most hon- 
estly interpreted and enforced the word of God. 

He was an interesting companion, alike for his intelligence, 
and the practical and weighty views he had matured on the 
most important matters, not only of business, but of life. He 
was a good listener, and a fair and honest man in comparing 
views, and debating questions of difference in opinions or prac- 
tice. 

He was a patriot of the early type, — a gentleman of the olden 
school — a friend to be trusted, and a man whose principles bore 
the test of intimate acquaintance and inspection, and whose influ- 
ence, unobtrusive, but potent, has been eminently useful. 

While living he was a cheerful and liberal supporter of the 
institutions of learning and religion, — though in these, as in 
every thing else, he counseled economy and frugality, — dying, he 
left the material means, wbich, if wisely employed, will aid yet 
more, and more widely, in the support of our schools, and 
our churches. 

We insert the clauses of his will, in which our schools and 
religious Societies, were remembered by him. 

" ThlrtmntK I give and bequeath to the first Congregational ; 
Bociety in the center of the town of Royalston, being, the same 



142 

with which I now worship, the .sum of Five Thousand Dollars 
($5000,) to be held and applied as follows; the interest of said 
Five Thousand Dollars shall be forever paid and applied annu- 
ally oi- semi-annually for the support of preachinjr in said society ; 
and it is my will that a Committee, chosen by said Society, for 
said purpose, shall act in concMirrcnce with my executors in 
investing" said sum, provided, that wdiencver, if ever, said Society 
shall fail to support the preachinj^ of the gospel and a rcj^ularly 
settled minister of the Con<^reti:ational denomination for any 
unreasonable length of time, and provide annually by tax or in 
some other way a sum not less than Five Hundred Dollars for 
the support of preaching and the other necessary expenses of 
public worship in said Society, then the said sum ol' Five Thou- 
sand Dollars shall revert to and be paid over to my children, or 
to their heirs by right of representation. 

Fourteenth, I give and bequeath to the Baptist Religious Soci- 
ety in the west part of the town of Royalston, the sum of Twenty 
Five Hundred Dollars, to be kept and applied as a fund, the in- 
come o( which shall be appropriated anrmally or semi-annually to 
the support of Gospel preaching, and public worship in said 
Society, and it is my vviil that a Committee, to be chosen by said 
SovMCty for such purpose, shall a(;t in concurrence with my Exe- 
cutors, in investing said sum. proridah that whenever said Soci- 
ety shall neglect to raise l)y subscrif>ti(>n or otherwise a sum not 
less than One Hundred and Fifty Dollars per annum for the 
support of preaching, and public w^orship, the said sum of Twenty 
Five Hundred Dollars shall revert to and be paid over to my 
children or to their heirs by i-ight of representation. 

Fifteenth, I give and be(]ueath to the Second Congregational 
Society of Royalston, at South Royalston, so called, the sum of 
Twenty Five Hundred Dollars ($2500,) to be held as a fund, the 
income of which shall be appropriated annually or semi-annually 
to the support of Gospel preaching in said Society ; and it is my 
will that a Committee, to be chosen by said Society, for such 



143 

f)urpose, shall act in concurrence with my Executors in the 
investino^ of said sum, provided, that whenever, if ever, said 
Society sliall fail to support preachins;, or to maintain a regularly 
organized Society at Soutli Royalstou, or whenever, if ever, that 
part of Royalston now known as Soutli Royalston, shall be set off 
front said town of Royalston, then, this sum of Twenty Five 
Hundred Dollars .shall revert to and be paid over to my children 
or their heirs by right of representation. 

Sixteenth, I give and bequeath to the town of Royalston the 
sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5000,) to ha held and applied 
as a fund, the income of which shall be appropriated and paid 
over for the benefit and use of Common Schools in said town, the 
^aid income to be divided among the several School Districts in 
like manner as the school money raised by the town shall be 
divided; and it is my will that a Committee, to be chosen by the 
(own for such purpose, shall act in concurrence with my Exec- 
utors in investing said sum, and that every year a Committee 
shall be chosen by the town at a legally called town meeting 
who shall have the charge and oversight of such investment and 
shall report annually to the town the condition aud income of 
the same, provided, however, that whenever the said town of 
Royalston shall neglect to keep, or cause to be kept, in a good 
state of repair, the new cemetery now being established on the 
ground recently purcliased of C. H. Maxham, that is to say, shall 
neglect to maintain in good order and condition the said ground, 
fence, gate, and receiving tomb therein, then this sum of Five 
Thousand Dollars shall revert to and be paid over to my chil- 
dren and their heirs by right of representation." 

Mr. Bullock, who was for some years a trustee of Amherst 
College, was also the donor of the fine Telescope, that uow 
<n"owns the College Observatory. 

NOTE I.— PAGE 36. WILD BEASTS AND GAME. 

Story tellers often keep on hand a store of Indiana, Bears, 
Wolves, or something of the kind, to put in for the entertain 



144 

meiit of their auditoi-s, especially the juveniles. Nor do ^:rave 
historians scorn to relieve and enliven their pages, by working" 
up materials of this kind, when honestly to be had. We are un- 
fortunate about the Indians, having, after diligent search, found 
nothing more than a few probable stone arrow-heads, pestles 
ifec., of their handi-work, and some, not so probal>le, ti-aditiona 
of Red-Skins, seen among the brakes and alders, along the 
margins of our ponds and streams. We give the Indians over. 

Not so the Bears and Wolves. These made quite a tigure in 
the early days. — Bears cross(»d the wood-mans path, and alarm- 
ed the berry pickers in tfi(! clearings. Mrs. Reuben Walker, 
whose fii-st home, after her n.ari'iagt', was on the place now occu- 
pied by Franklin H. (loddard — formerly the Asa Bacheller 
place — rehearsed to one of this committee, when he was a boy. 
her adventure with a white-faced bear. She was out for bla(;k 
berries ; and seeing some fine ones, whose canes grew up by the 
side, and interlac(Ml with tiie dead branches of a fallen hemlock, 
she worked her way to them along the trunk of the pi'ostrate 
tree. While employed in gathering the tempting i)erries, she 
made a false step and fell among the bushes — landing almost 
upon a bear. Of course, she screamed, and ran. The bear ran 
too, — but in the opposite direction. 

But the bears did worse; than give the* settlers an occasional 
fright. They feloniously made way with sheep and calves from 
the pastures, and sometimes broke into the folds, by night, and 
took their fill of (;hoic(; mutton. Various modes were adopted 
for punishing these marauders. Traps were ma<le of logs, and 
Bruin, like a great many other pleasure seekers, found it easier 
to get into these inviting accommodations, than to get safely out 
again. After awhile iron trai)S came into vogue; but these 
sometimes proved hog-traps, as well. Thus, a bear having bro- 
ken into the fold of Nathan Reed, who lived on the John Hol- 
man place, now so called, and made a supper off of one of his 
siieep, he applied to his neighbor Bigsby to sot his iron trap for 



145 

the depredator the next night. Unfortunately, however, liis 
i>eighbor Piper's hog stumbled into the trap during the evening, 
l)Oth to his own hurt, and the spoiling oi' the nice little after- 
.Mcene. got up especially for the bear. There was so much 
noise and disturbance about the premises in consequence of this 
mis-adventure, that Mrs. Bruin declined coming for her supper 
in that locality ; but went over to the fold of Mr. Bemis, where 
she made free with one of his sheep. Mr. Bigsby tried liis 
trap, the next night, near this second scene of depredation ; and 
sure enough, the bear walked into it, this time, losing both luu- 
supper and her life. When dressed she weighed about 300 lbs. 

Bear hunts were frequently organized, ana tlie connnon ene- 
my was liunted down in this way. The last l)ear hunt, in Roy- 
alsto.ijcame off as recently as 1829. A bear was seen in the out- 
skirts of Hardscrabble, a rude piece of woods, lying south of the 
" the city." The next day the people rallied in force, with guns 
and dogs, determined to take the bear dead or alive. He was 
uncovered early in the day; but gave a gratuitous entertainment 
to his pursuers, which lasted till near nightfall, when two well 
directed shots, by Cyrus l>avis and James ButYum, brought him to 
the ground. The huntsmen gathered to the finale, and one of 
them, our now venerable townsman, Adriel White, more venture- 
some than prudent, got a hug, the marks of which he carries to 
this day. , 

Wolves were more numerous, and dangerous, than the Bears; 
diough they sooner abandoned the town. The early settlers 
used to see them in the evening twilight, stealing abroad, and, 
in the hours of breaking day, returning to their coverts, gener- 
ally without noise, and several of them together, following each 
other in single file. In the night, however, they held high car- 
nival on the open meadows, and, during the winter, upon the 
ponds. Dea. Enos Metcalf, who lived on the high lands just 
west of Long Pond, used to describe their howling as frightful. 
Upon visiting their rendezvous, the next day, the grass or snow 



146 

as tlie case might be, would be trodden as thouuli a flock of 
sheep had boon folded over nijjht upon th(^ spot. Woe to man or 
oeast, abroad and unprotected in the nit^ht. The Wolves were 
almost sure to be upon their track, and hunt them down befoi'(v 
morning. Our Bosworth story is tar from incredible. His pine 
knot was a good arm of defence ; and his strategy was admii-a- 
ble. But many a poor beast, that strayed from the pastures, 
and failed of being hunted up by its owners, paid the forfeit of 
its temerity with its life. The Wolves even made bold, when 
pressed with hunger, to advcnturt! their attacks in the broad day. 
Benoni Peck, Esq., gives us an instance. His mother, her hus- 
band being absent one day, and she engaged in her domestic 
affairs within doors, heard their tirst and only cow bellowing, as 
though in affright or moital pain. She shut up her four little 
ones, and went out to ascertain the cause of tiie unusual noise. 
Passing the hovel she armed herself with the pitcli-lbrk, and has- 
tened to the scene ot disturbance, where she found the cow cor- 
nered among some logs, and a wolf rending lier. Mrs. Peck 
rushed upon the ferocious creature, employing both lungs an<l 
fork with a will. The wolf beat a reluctant reti-eat ; and the 
cow, though badly mangled, was saved by the hei-oism of her 
mistress. 

; Royalston, like most of the other towns, offered a bounty on 
wolves; and wolfheads, came to hold a marki't value. 

Wildcats, Catamounts, and Panthers, so called, were often 
heard in the woods, sometimes seen, and sometimes killed. We 
have several instances of the shooting, or taking of these danger- 
ous animals ; while all accounts agree, that the; concerts they 
gave at night, around the cabins, camp-fires and coal-pits 
of the (jarly settlers, put all that is ever executed of this kind, l>y 
their domestic cousins, deep into the shade. 

Of course, game abounded in the forests, while the ponds and 
streams afforded good hshing grounds. Mr. Jo)ies was not the 
only one to get sight of the- moose-; though we learn of none 



147 

who made so romantic use of his trophies. Mrs. Nathan Cutting:, 
whose cosy home, it will be remembered, was set back into the 
hill, east of where John Leathe now lives, once had the privacy 
of her domestic arrang'oments invaded by a large specimen of 
this family, which peered into her kitchen from the hcig'ht above. 
Deer were more common, and many an antler graced the cabins 
of our fathers, while their larders could frequently boast the 
savory venison. Wild turkies were, for a long time, met with 
in flocks of 20, 50 or 100. There are those now living, who 
have seen them in the fall of the year, in large numbers, upon 
the meadows north of Long Pond. Asahel Davis shot a wild 
turkey gobbler, in 1808, that weighed 20 lbs. ; and the Mrs. Walker, 
whose encounter with the bear has been told, is said to have 
run down a famous wild turkey upon the snow crust, with her 
dog. That our streams were once frequented by beavers, the 
remains of their dams still demonstrate, Fine specimens of the 
Otter have been, and still are, occasionally, taken in our waters. 
We have always had fox-hunters among us ; and the baying of the 
hounds is still a common occurrence, in the season of fox-hunting 
But the days of good hunting, trapping and fishing have gone 
by with us. Only the indomitable sportsman! who can hunt all 
day for a shot, or angle hours for a " nibble," have now any great 
e.ithusiasm in exploring our woods, or waters for game ; while 
ivihl beasts are absolutely obsolete. 

NOTE L.— PAGE 45. ROADS. 

' In 175.3 the proprietors empowered a committee, consisting 
of Joseph Wilder, Caleb Dana, and John Chandler, to clear out 
a way, or ways, to their recent purchase, and lay their account 
before the Proprietors. Bills for this work were subsequently 
rendered and allowed ; but no data remain for ascertaining the 
location of these thoroughfares. The settlers came in from al- 
most every point of the compass, and the accounts we have of the 
dillicuities which many parties encountered in making their way 
to their wilderness homes, indicate that no very commodious 



148 

roads had been made. Within the township it was no better. 
To reaeh their settlements, to comnunicate with each other and 
the (jomraon center, each settler was left to his own resources. 
The roads were mere trails or paths mai-ked by blazed frees, i. e. 
trees spotted with the ax. Present convenience, the necessity of 
the case, and the means at hand, determined where those paths 
should run, and how be constructed. The future was left to care 
for itself. Perhaps this was all that could have been expected 
of the settlers themselves in the first years of their advent. It 
might have been better had the Proprietors, consulting their own 
interests and the interests of their einbi-yo town, taken this 
matter in hand at the beginning and opened ways to the settler's 
lots which they early laid out and designated, or had the town, 
incorporated so soon after its settlement began, been more 
thoughtful and provident of the future. As it was, however, 
these hap-hazard and circuitous frails of the first settlers became, 
for the most part, and by authority, the roads of the: town. Now 
that the forests are felled and the country opened, it is easy to 
detect the errors of this system, or want of system, in road- 
making ; but not so easy to remedy them. In vain do we regret 
the large elbows that should have been cut across, and the hilln 
that might have been so easily avoided. 

It is curious to study the records of road-making, road- 
changing &c., as they are plentifully scattered through our portly 
books. Down to 1 797, 92 roads had been laid out by the select- 
men, accc}ttcd by the town and ordered to be constructed. In 
addition to th(ise sev(U'ai public-roads, at least one '' bridaV 
road had been legalized ; but whether the authorities st)ught, by 
this last named road, to bring forward the settlement of the 
town, or the clei-k was at fault in his spelling, every one is at 
liberty to judge for himself. 

During this peiiod 15 roads liad been discontinued, and six 
materially changed, or ''turned'. From $125, to $250, was the 
annual appropriation for road purpose.;', and 50 cts. allowed fox 



149 

a day's work upon the roads. In 1797 the appropriation was 
$4G6 07 the price of a days labor remaining the same. 

In later times more of the old roads have been discontinued 
or changed ; and new x'oads constructed upon later models. 
We liave now about 80 miles of public highways and the annual 
appropriation is from ten to twelve hundred dollars, — sometimes 
raised as a money tax and expended by special committees, and 
sometimes it is ivorked out in the old-fashioned way. At present, 
however, the price of labor upon the roads is no longer 
determined by the town but follows the law of demand and 
supply, as in other cases. Road mending is not now the free 
and easy, not to say, high thing it used to be, filling the high- 
ways with men, boys, and oxen, all intent upon making a 
good thing of it, for themselves at least, several yoke of oxen 
hitched to the same plough, each yoke with a driver, two or 
more men riding upon the beam, and one burly fellow holding 
the handles, while the residue of the squad watch the process of 
ploughing, or leisurely pitch the furrow into the road ; but now 
a single yoke of oxen, and two or three men with modern tools 
go forth to this business, and somehow it happens that more 
work is done and to better purpose by this corporal's guard, 
than used to be accomplished by the assembled wisdom and 
prowcrs of a whole neighborhood. 

An extra appropriation is made for the repaii; of the larger 
bridges, and disbursed by the Selectmen as occasion requires. 

In addition to these appropriations the towi^ is liable to be 
called upon, often in a very considerable sum, for keeping the 
roads open in winter. .The day of old-fashioned turnouts for 
snow-shovelling and snow treading is gone by ; and the boys and 
steers are no longer called upon for volunteer services in the 
behalf of the public. It is suggested, with how much truth we 
do not undertake to, say, that the old style disappeared with the 
taverns, that used to stand at almost every corner, and where, as 
also at the grand old stores, the road-breakers used .to get a 



150 

thorou<(}i warming after coming through the drifts. At all 
events this business is now done on a money basis, and as no- 
body can tell b(;forehand how nmcli road-breaking will be re- 
quired, no appropriation is made : but the town foots the bills 
in tlu^ Spring. 

NOTK, M.— I'AGE 45. THE DOCTORS BACHELLERS. 

in oiii- eai-ly records we have the signatures of the heads of 
two families, by the name of Bacheller, — Dr. Stephen Bacheller, 
and Dea. John Bachellei-; but they wrote their sir name difler- 
ently. The Doct. wrote, Bachelder, and Dea., Bacheller. Doct. 
Stephen Bacheller, Jr. wrote his name after still another orthog- 
raphy, Batcheller. 

[n these Notes we have adopted the Deacon, as our authority, 
hoping in him, as the middle man to find the golden means. 

We add here, an ahsf.ract of a " Biographical Notice "' of the 
Doctors Bacheller, father and son, printed in " The Boston 
Medical and Surgical Journal." V^ol. .S9, No. 28. 

Dr. Stephen Bacheller, Sen. was boi'u at (jrrafton, Mass., and 
c(>mmenced the {practice of his profession in Royalston, in the 
early settlement of the town, in fact wlum it was almost an en- 
tire wilderness, lie was the; (irst j>hysii'ian of the town, and 
ther(; he conlimied to j)ractice till his decease, lie sufl'ered much 
from th(^ want*of roads, and the condition of su(;h as existed. 
Jle was obliuiMJ to travel by niarktHi.trees, in this and the neigh- 
boi-ing (owns, often by night, and freciuentiy followed by bears 
und wolves; and to ford streams at the })eril of his life. Add 
to this the roughness of the country in tlu! noith-western sec- 
tion of \Voi-c(5ster count}', and some idea nuiy be tormed of tlie 
j)(.'rilH and dangers he }iad to endure in the discharge of his pro- 
fessional duties. Yet he never refuscMl to respond to the calls 
oi' his lot, whate\-er (he raging of the storm, the darkness of the 
nighl. tli(» dangers of tlu; way, or the poverty of the patiiuits. 
His ride was verv e.vtensive. He was icmai-kable for his 



151 

kindness and attention to the poor, never compelling payment 
from them for medical services. Early in life he made a pro- 
fession of religion by joining the Congregational Church in Roy- 
alston. 

His son, Dr. Stephen Bacheller, Jr. received his {)reparatory 
education at the Academies of Chesterfield, N. H., and New Sa- 
lem, of this State. He devoted much attention to the study of 
the Latin Language, and had a good knowledge of Creek. He 
commenced the study of medicine with his father, but spent the 
latter period of his pupilage under the instruction of the late 
Dr. Plenry Wells, of Montague, one of the most distinguished 
physicians of New England. 

At the age of 22, he began the practice of his profession in 
Truro, on the Cape. This was in the autumn or winter of 1800. 
He remained at Truro three years ; when, at the solicitation of 
his father, who began to feel some of the infirmities of age, he 
returned to his native town, and commenced business with him 
in 1803, And it is a fact worthy of notice, that the father and 
son practiced in town during the long jieriod of 80 years, — the 
father 35 years Ijef'oi-c the son commenced with him, and the 
son 45 years from his return to Royalston in 1803. 

As a physician, the latter certainly held a high and very re- 
spectable rank and was greatly esteemed by his professional 
brethren. He prol)ably had, for many years, a more extensive 
(;onsultation business than any other physician in the County, and 
perhaps in the State. He was highly honored by the Mass. 
Medical Society, of which he became a fellow June 1, 1824, and 
continued his connection to the time of his decease. He was 
one of the most punctual attendants at its annual meetings, often 
riding from Royalston to Boston, — 70 miles or more, — in his gig 
the day before the meeting, and returning home, in the same 
manner, the day after. He was for many years one of tho 
Counsellors of the Society; two years its Vice President; and 
one of the delegates from this Society, in May, 1848, to the 



152 

Aincrican Medical Association, whose session that year was held ' 
in Baltimore. He was one of the founders of the District So- 
ciety, for Worcester Co., and for some years its President. 

The number of medical students, who spent a part or the 
whole of their pupilao-e with him, was about 40, many of whom 
have proved respectable and even eminent physicians. lie was 
ambitious to keep pace with the improvements in the profession, 
procuring and readinj;- the latest and most approved periodical 
publications, and standard works. He was an early riser, and 
devoted his whole time to his library and his patients. His pi-o- 
iessional charges were unusually low; and like very many of his 
brethren he was negligent in collecting his debts, especially if 
the debtor was pooi'. The widow and the orjjhau wei-c (con- 
stantly applying to iiini for advice and counsel ; uiid Ik; olten 
assisted them to his own pecuniary detriment. 

Independently of his professional wortii he was highly esteemed I 
by his townsmen as a valuable citizen, representing his native 
town in the State Legislature, holding the office of a Justice of 
the Peace, and serving in various mun.cipal offi "cs. He gave all 
his influence in favor of the cause of Temperance, and contrib- 
uted liberally for the su{)port of tlie institutions of religion, ed- 
ucation (fee. He litci'ally died in the hai'ness, having practiced 
in two of the adjoining towns on tlie day of his death, and on 
his return, deposited his vote for Presidential Electors at the 
town-house. He died at the house of a near neighbor, where he 
called ai)parently well; but soon complained of feeling iaint, — 
leaned back in his chair, and called for a glass of water, but 
before it could be handed him, he was dead. 

NOTES N, O, P, & Q.— PAGES 49 : 50 : 52 : 53. REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. 

During this Period the people of Koyalston, in common with 
those of other towns, were often called upon to canvass, in their 
legal capacity, the grave questions of State tiicn in aggitation ; 
and to share tlie common burdens of those eventful vcars. The 



153 

rapid sketch, given by Mr. Bullock, brings out the salient points 
and produces an impression as grateful as it is just. The action 
of the town was not only in harmony with the general spirit of 
those grand old times, but manifestly the result of mature delib- 
eration and sound and comprehensive theories. Indeed it is 
marvellous, that a community, so distant from the centres of pop- 
ulation and business, so lately brought together, and so occupied 
and even pressed with the cares of a new settlement, should be 
able to address themselves with dignity and effect to the work 
of a great political revolution. But even here, and under such 
circumstances, there was the intelligence and statesmanship, 
even, which insured the apprehension of duty, and brought out 
the resources of the people in their full strength. 

The fuller history of this period, so unconsciously imprinted 
on the records of the times, justilies and deepens the impression 
above referred to; while, as the order and significance of its de- 
tails are gathered and apprehended, the problem of popular 
government grows luminous. If, in such circumstances, it is 
priicticable to find committees of correspondence, and of safety, 
worthy to be consulted in tlie debates and decisions of a national 
<;i-isis. and (l(4egates competent to take in hand the radical recon- 
sti'uction of the state, then, surely, free institutions arc in order, 
the people may be trusted, and it is their prerogative to rule, 
(certainly the experiment in Royalston, and as tested by the fruits 
of a hundred years, shows that our fathers were ripe for freedom, 
and competent, alike in Church and State, wisely to assert and 
maintain popular constitutional liberty. 

As early as 1773, while yet the hour of the Revolution had 
not struck, the citizens of Royalston put themselves in corres. 
pondence with the central committee in Boston, and through 
them with the other towns of the Province, that " the sentiments" 
of the people might have utterance in the ear of government, and 
that unity of counsel might prevail in meeting the encroachments 
of the Crown and Parliament. To this they added a committee 



154 

of Safety, like the former, affiliated with others throuQ;h the 
Province, and continued by annual elections till the final triumph 
of the American cause. Prominent and familiar names fill the 
lists of these potent agencies in the interests of Justice and 
Liberty. 

It was before Royalston had begun to send Representatives to 
the General Court, that the final breach between it and the Pro- 
vincial governor occured. Gov. Gage, by his proclamation of 
Sept. 1, 1774, had convoked said court to meet at Salem on the 
.Ith of October following. On tlie last Wednesday of the previ- 
ous May, the govennncnt for the year had been duly organized ; 
and the councillors, tiien chosen and qualified, held their office, 
according to the chartei-, during the year. Meanwhile Parlia- 
ment had passed the " Regulaling Act," in which, among other 
things, aimed at the subversion of our ancient Charter, the aj)- 
pointment of councillors was taken from the Assembly and vested 
in the crown. The King, eager to begin the work of humbling 
Massachusetts, sent to Gage a new list of Councillors, at the 
same time with the Regulation Act. Both came to hand Aug. 
6, 1774; and the new Councillors were forthwith summoned to 
their post by a writ of Mandamus; licnce their title Mandamus 
Councillors. The Province, thei-efoi-c, had two set of councillors, 
one holding office under the charter, another holding their posi- 
tions by virtue of the King's Mandamus. In these circumstances 
Gage had issued his proclamation convoking the General Court. 
But he was soon made aware that the old councillors intend(Hl to 
take their seats as usual ; and further that the Mandamus Coun- 
cillors could not be present to contest those seats without a 
stronger escort than he could then afibrd them. Nay. no sooner 
had the people become aware of this move, and that there were 
men among themselves, who had consented to take office in the 
subversion of the charter, then they gave these gentlemen such 
indications of their sentiments, that, of the six and thirty who 
had received the wtit, more than twenty revoked their acceptance; 



155 

or declined to attend at vSalem, while the rest fled to the British 
army at Boston for personal safety ; and they fled none too soon : 
for there was not a town in the whole province where a Manda- 
mus councillor, whatever had been his previous standing, was 
safe, till he had thrown up his commission and publicly fore- 
sworn all future complicity with the royal government in its at- 
tempts to overthrow the ancient liberties. Isaac Royal was one 
of ti.ose councillors who preferred to fly to Boston, and ulti- 
mately to fly the country, rather than give up the royal commis- 
sion he had received from the king. 

Gage now found himself in a dilemma. He had lately come from 
the king, assuring him, that, with four regiments, he would play 
the " lion," with his refractory subjects across the waters. But 
he was check-mated on the first move. He sought to escape by 
a second proclamation, issued Sept. 28, in which, without either 
proroguing or dissolving the General Court, he informed the 
members elect, that he should not meet them at Salem on the 5th 
of October, and discharged them from giving their attendance. 

Ninety of the members met, notwithstanding, and after wait- 
ing two days for the Governor, proceeded to business. They 
first sat in judgment upon the second proclamation ; pronounced 
it unconstitutiotial and void, and having resolved themselves in- 
to a Provincial Congress, and adjourned to meet at Concord on 
the eleventh, with such other delegates as might see cause to 
join them. On the eleventh they met 2(i0 strong, put John 
Hancock at their head as President, and on the fourteenth sent 
a message to the Governor, informing him, that, for want of an 
Assembly, they had convened in a Provincial Congress. 

This was inaugurating a new order of things, and it behooved 
the people to pass upon it. Royalston elected to go with 
the patriotic delegates, and against the usurpatious of the 
governor; and we find the name of Henry Bond upon the 
roll of this Congress. A second convened at Cambridge, 
Feb. 1, 1775 J held an adjourned session at Concord and 



156 



another at Watertown, and was disssolved May 29th of the 
same year. Upon this Nahuin Green attended, participating 
also in tliose early and nioniorable passaires at arms, durinjij 
those months, which transferred our controversy from the forum 
to the battl(!-lields of a seven years' war. 

On this new theatre Royalston kept herself continually repre- 
sented, not by solitary delegates, but full quotas, whose names, 
as far as we have been able to gather them, are given below. 

Our archives have no list; but from the votes of the town, 
from bills, orders and receipts, scattered through the town rec- 
ords of this period, from the records of deaths occurring in 
camp, or on the war-paths, — from the pension lists, and from 
the sacred memories of descendants, relatives, and friends, we 
have constructed this roll of our 



REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS. 

Nahum (tRKBN. 
Col. Ebenezer Newel, 



Maj. John Norton, 
Capt. Jonathan Sibley, 
('apt. Eiio(;h Whitmore, 
ijt. Kdward Ilolman, 
Lt. Nathan Wheeler, 
David ('opeland, 
Ammi Falkner, 
John Davis, Jr., 
S(]uicr Davis, 
Sylvester Davis, 
John Ellis, 
Nathan Bliss, 
Kliphalct Richardson, 
Abijali Richardson, 
l)a\ id liullock, 



Lt. Jonas Allen, 
Lt. James Work, 
Lt. Micah French, 
Silas Cutting, 
Bezalcal Barton, 
Samuel Barton, 
Moses Walker, 
Joel Stockwell, 
Ebenezer Hurbank. 
Benjamin Clark, 

Perhani, 

Josiah Waitc, 
Nathan B. Newton. 
Joseph Emerson, 
Samuel W. Bowker. 
Saumel Lewis, 



157 

Jonathan Wellington, Nathaniel Jacobs, 

Rogers Chase, Benajah Woodbury, 

Benjamin Leathe, David Cook, 

Isaac Nichols, William Clement, 

William Clement, 2d, Jonathan Gale, 

Timothy Armstrong. 

It is probable that some of the above names, which we deriv- 
ed from the pension lists, belonged to persons who were not 
citizens of Royalston before the Revolution, but settled here 
immediately after leaving the war. As we found it impossible 
to discriminate such cases with certainty, we have given all the 
early settlers, who drew pensions. 

In addition to the above, there was a large company of the 
men of Royalston, who shouldered their muskets, upon short 
notice, and marched to repel the invasion of the " Northern Ar- 
my," in 1777. But General Gates had put a period to that 
enterprise, before the rallying forces from this section could join 
him, having defeated Burgoyne in the battle of Stillwater, Sept. 
1 7th, and again, more thoroughly, in the battle of Saratoga, Oct, 
7th, and compelled him to capitulate his entire force, Oct. 17. 
These volunteers were ordered back to their homes. 

Our experience in the late war with the Rebellion enables us 
to appreciate, somewhat more fully, the business and the impor- 
tance of the business, which, to so large an extent, engaged the 
attention of the towns in their legal meetings, during this Revo- 
lutionary period. But even this experience does not suggest all 
the sublime features of the original struggle. We had only to 
see to it, that constitutions, laws and liberties, already establish- 
ed, and long enjoyed, were neither crushed out, nor infracted; 
but our fathers had, first of all, to break from off them the yoke 
of a mighty foreign power, and then, — nay, in the very height of 
this great eftbrt, and amid all the exigencies of blazing war, to 
originate, and foster into strength and maturity, a new foi-m o!' 
civil life ; and all this, of course, when there were no constituted 



158 

civil authorities to undertake the work for them. It must be 
broujj^ht before the primary assemblies of the people at every 
step, and in all its stages, while every town was straining all its 
powers to furnish men and means to ensure that triumph in the 

conflict of arras, without which constitutions and laws would be 
useless. 

As early as 1776, Massachusetts moved in the direction ot a 
State Constitution. It was put to the several towns whether the 
(reneral Court of 1777 should be chosen with the understanding 
that one part of their duty should be to form a Constitution. 
Royalston went heartily for the measure. The resulting consti- 
tution was j-ead in the April meeting of 1778; but action there- 
on was postponed till the May meeting; when the town "voted 
not to approve of said Constitution as it now stands. Voted 
to approve of said Constitution in part," and a committee of 
seven mrni was chosen to make such alterations in, and remarks 
upon, the work of the Ceneral Court, both the parts disapproved 
and those that were approved, as they might deem needful in 
order to convey to the Court the sense of the people. The 
committee reported at an adjourned meeting, — the last Wednes- 
day in May, when the town " heard the form of government com- 
posed by the conunittee, read over and again, and voted nnani- 
inonsiy to approve of the same. Numljcr voted, 76." Tiie clerk 
was directed to make out an attested copy of this document, and 
transmit it to tiie Secretary's Office, " as truly expressive of 
the sense of this town respecting government whi(;h they are 
desirous may be established as soon as possible." 

This effort failing, it was submitted to the people whether the 
next (I'-neral Court should eall a (convention lor the sole purpose 
of framing a constitution. Royalston again answered in the 
aflirmative, and [csponded to tlu; subsequent precept of th(> 
General Court, by ('.hoo«;ing Silvanus Hemcnway " to join in con- 
vention at Cambridge on the first day of September next (1779 i 
t/> form a coustituti(»u of (lovernmeut for the State of Massachu- 
8etts Bay. ' 



159 

The •'' Frame of Government proposed by the Convention was 
laid before the town May 25th, 1780; and laid over to be acted 
npon at an adjourned meeting on the 31st. A town meeting was 
held on that day under a distinct warrant, and its doings there- 
on duly recorded ; but no record is to l)e found of the adjourn- 
ed meeting. The doughty Captain of " Louisburg and Crown 
Point memory," seems, for once at least, to have forgotten him- 
self. It may seem the less strange if we state, that John Fry 
was moderator of each of these meetings, — clerk of the Town, a 
delegate elect — in the place of Mr. Hemenway — to the second 
session of the State Convention, and Representative elect to the 
General Court. With so many duties and honors to look after, 
shall we not plead a mitigation of censure, though he has left 
us no record of the final action of the town in regard to our 
excellent State Constitution. 

A Convention had held one session at Concord, and adjourned 
to meet again Oct. 1, 1779. The town was warned and came 
together to act upon the following article, which indicates the 
objects at tiie Convention aforesaid. '' To hear the proceed- 
ings of the Convention at Concord on account of settling prices 
of commodilies bought and sold [within the State | and acton 
said aflair as the town may think proper." 

It seems that the currency had become so deranged as seri- 
ously to affect trade and l)usiness. In the absence of legal rem- 
edies, the effort was made, sometimes by the concurrence of 
several towns, sometimes by County, and sometimes by State 
Conventions, to regulate by mutual agreement and recommenda- 
tion, the prices at which commodities should be bought and vsold, 
and labor performed. It was but a temporary expedient while 
yet the nation was struggling for her life ; and therefore with- 
out any pretence of law, or legal authority. But it was hoped that 
it might have moral force, and it stands as an illustration of the 
brave and considerate patriotism of the times. A godly old 
patriot in New Hampshire, interested in encouraging similar 



160 

movements, wlieii told they would be of no use, for people in 
the absence of law, would sell and buy as they could, is said to 
have re})1ied, — ' Any man who will not hear the voice of our 
Convention, would not hear, tliou<rh one should arise from the 
dead; 

Tiie town acted upon the article above stated, Aug". 10, 1779, 
and chose Henry Bond to attend the next session of the Con- 
v(niti()n, which was to meet the iirst Wednesday of October. 

In due time the result of said Convention came before the 
town, when a Committee, consisting of Capt. Fry, Wm. Town, 
Lieut, (yhase, Henry Bond, Lieut. Wheeler, Dea. Woodbury, and 
Pelctiah Metcalf, was chosen " to set prices on the sundry com- 
•noditics boutrht and sold in town, agreeable to the instructons 
of the Convention at Concord." 

We have not beon able to Hnd the schedule of prices adopted, 
or to ascertain the efl'ect of the nu^asure u])on tlie peoj)le, or 
business of the town. 

Thei'c is one record relating to th(^ (^jntinentai (.ongress, 
which, for its brevity and point, deserves to l)c recited. The 
town had been called together to act upon tiic following ai'ticU'S. 

"2. To hear the Resolves of Congress." 
8. To act thereon as the town may think pi-opcr. The town 
met Jan. 28th, 1778, and their doings arc tlnis set down. 
" 2. Read the Resolves of Congress. 
3. Voted to accept and abide by them." 

We close this note with a single extract, illnsti-ating tht; action 
of the town in the matters referred to on the 5Hi-(l page. 

"Jan. 8, 1781, The Committee, appointed by the town to 
make an average of the cost of the present war, met and appoint- 
ed Mr. Wm. Town, Clerk of the Committee. 

First question : How long back shall th(^ property be taxed 
in the proposed average ? Ana. All charges that have arisen in 
the year 1780. 



161 

2. Is it the opinion of the ('ommittee that those persons that 
have done service in other towns be allowed for their servi(;es l)y 
this town, as a de])t of this town? Ans. No. 

o. Is it the opinion of the Committee that every class of men, 
for tlie same service at the same time and distance, shall he al- 
lowed eqnally ? Ans. Yes. 

4. How many times " old way " shall the cost of the wai- he 
doubled in " New Emission," to make it eqnal to tlie old way ? 
Ans. Forty-five shillinii's in New Emission. 

'). How far l)ack sliall those persons ])e taxed Ibr tiie charge 
of the wai-, that have moved into town since the connnencement 
ol" the war? Ans. The expenses since they came to town. 

(*). What shall be done with those persons that have done 
moi-c than their pro])ortion in the war Ijefore they come into 
town ? Ans. It shall he left discretionary with the assessors in 
conjunction with the sehM-tmen. 

7. Shall any persons, whose credit is higher than tlieir pr(^sent 
tux. draw any of said credit out of the Treasury of this town 
until the close of the wur? Ans. No. 

T])e above articles were approved by the town. 

JOHN BACHELLER, Modkuatou." 



NOTE U.— PAGE 56. THE LAST WAR WITH GREAT BRITTAN". 

The majority in Royalston laid no claim to special enthusiasm 
in this war. The national policy, which at length brought it on, 
had not been at all approved, and early, earnest and harmonious 
town action, similar to that in other towns, was had, to prevent 
if possible, the out-break. The Town heard, and voted a Peti- 
tion to the President of the United States, in 1808, ' praying him 
that the embargo, in whole or in part, may be suspended, accord- 
ing to the powers vested in him by Congress.' The next year, 



162 

they chose a committee, consisting of Joseph Esterbrook, Stephen 
Bachcller Jr., John Norton, Isaac Metcalf, and Ruins Bullock, to 
draft a Petition to the General Court to take measures to redress 
the greviances arising from the policy of the National Cxovernment. 
The committee reported a petition which was adopted by the town ; 
and, as giving us some idea of the men, and the spirit of the 
times, we deem it relevant to the object we have in hand, to give 
a few paragraphs of the document. 

" The. inhabitants of the Town of Royalston, legally assembled 
in Town Meeting for the purpose of taking into consideration 
the present unprecedented and very alarming situation of our 
public aflairs, hereby represent, that when there is a derelic- 
tion from the first principles, when there is a practical depart- 
ure from what is warranted by the constitution, in those that 
lead in government, then there is a call to vigilance and exertion 
to prevent the progress of the evil. Notwithstanding it has 
been recently intimated from high authority that the people^ in 
town meeting &c., are not capable of judging of the propriety or 
impropriety of the measures of government, and that there are 
stages when an end must be put to debate, yet, so long as we 
consider our National and State Constitutions the supreme law 
of our land, we shall, agreably to the rights therein secured to 
us, (which rights we are determined never to relinquish,) take 
the liberty, on all important and poi-tentous (issues,) particular- 
ly when those rights are invaded and ti-aniphid upon, to assom- 
Itle in orderly and peaceable maimer to make our grievances 
known, and to use all proper and constitutional means to have 
them redressed. 

We have seen with anxiety a system of measures [)ursued 
which has paralized industry and enterprise, discouraged our 
farmers, and embarrassed our merchants, })ronght distress upon 
all classes of our citizens, and produced the greatest temptation 
for an illicit trade perhaps ever known. 



163 

Wc are firmly attached to our National and State constitu- 
tions, and cheerfully pledge our lives and everything we hold 
dear to support them. We are also firmly attached to a Union 
of the States and should view with horror and detestation any 
attempts to sever them, or to discountenance that friendship and 
liarmony that ought to subsist between them." 

The above will suffice for our object, in the introduction of 
this document. 

In 1812 the town was called together again, "to see what 
measures to adopt relative to the distressing situation of our 
country, and act in concert with millions of American citizens to 
take all peaceable and Constitutional means, if possible to avert 
the liorrors of war." Again the town chose a Committee to 
draft resolutions, heard and adopted them, and chose a delega- 
tion to attend a Convention at Worcester, then about to convene, 
to take into consideration the same absorljing subject. 

But the war came; and Royalston met her responsibilities 
under the same, if not with the enthusiasm of partisans, yet with 
tlie steadiness of loyal citizens. When men were detached to 
serve in the Federal armies appropriations were made for them. 

During the severe campaign of 1814, while the veteran troops 
of England were fighting desperately along the frontier of Niag- 
ara, and getting desperately punished at Chippewa, and Lundy's 
Ijauc, their naval force were threatening our Northern Sea-coast. 
They had already run up to Essex, on the Connecticut, and de- 
stroyed tlie shipping there to a large amount. Troops were 
therefore concentrated upon the sea-board for coast defense. It 
was in the prosecution of this object that the Grenadiers, a newly 
formed independent organization in Royalston, were called to 
Boston. They got their orders Saturday night, Aug. 9th, 1814; 
and were to march at once. They mustered the next day, at- 
tended divine service with their friends, and started for the 
capital of the State. 



164 

Thcv wore di.'^charQrcd after 85 days service and returrKMi 
lioinc witliout casuality. 

This company, Avliose Roll, as it stood in 1814, we give he- 
low, kept up its organization down to a late period, and always 
sustained a high reputation. It will be observed that several of 
its original members rose to the connnand of tlie old 5th llegt.. 
to which it was attached, also that one of the privates, William 
(liase, .Jr., afterwards comilianded the company. There was a 
long line of Captains, from citizens subsequently joining the 
company. 

We designate those of this company, since deceased, by the 
st(ir. 

Capt. Benj. Brown, Pro'd Col. 5tli Re.gt., 2d Brig., 7th Div. 
Lieut. Benoni Peck, " Capt. (jrrenadiers. 
Ensign* W. Newton, Pro'd Col. 5th Regt., 2d Brig., Tth Div. 
Sergeant Isaac Gale, 2d. 

Elmer Newton, Pro"d Col. oth Regt., 2d Brig., Tth Div. 
" Alanson White, 
" *Jonah Walker, 
Coi-poi'al, Thomas Norton, 

*Josiah Wheeler, I^ro'd Col. 5th Regt., 2d lii-ig.. 
7th Div. 
" *Moscs Tyler, 
" David Thurston. 

IV I u s I c I A^ :Nr s . 

*,Joscph J\\irce, *Silas IV'irce, Edson (.-lark, Silas Metcalf 
,)amcs P(;irce. 

1^ K I V A T J : S . 

Luke Bemis, *Nathan Bemis, Jonas Brewer Jr., William Chase 
Jr.. John Chamberlain Jr., *John Dexter, *Elias Emerson, *John 
Katou, *Chauncy Forbush, *Moses (Jarfield, .lohn Hill, fliram 



1G5 

Lewis, '^■^Eenj. Loathe, Jr., Russcl Morse, Chauucy Peck, ■^'Jolm 
Prescott, Chandler Peabody, ^Thomas Rogers, ^Stephen Rich- 
ardson, "'Reuben Stockwell, Isaac Stockwell, ^Simeon Stockwell, 
*Joscph Stockwell, Jonathan Stockwell, Tarrant Stockwell, 
*John B. Walker, '^^Asa Walker, Nathaniel Wilson, Jr. 

NOTE, S.— PAGE 58. SOLDIERS IN THE WAR WITH THE REBELLION. 

We give beloAV, in response to the noble words of the centen- 
nial orator, the names of those men, who volunteered and 
served on the successive quotas of Royalston during the late 
war. Some of them have now returned to the pursuits of 
peaceful industry among us ; some have gone into business else- 
where, and some, — alas! such, and so many, as we could have 
yielded only in such a cause, will come back no more. Yet 
they live in th*:; memory of that sublimely patriotic devotion 
which had classic utterance in the words of Warren, when he 
broke from his deprecating friends to participate, as a private, 
in the battle of Bunker Hill, — "J/J is pleasant and becoming to die 
for ones count nj^ 

Most of our soldiers served in the 21st, 25th, 36th, and 53rd 
Regts. The last named Regt., was for nine months. We are 
indebted to Adjutant General Wm. Schouler for material aid in 
perfecting this Roll. 

The 21st Regiment left for the seat of war, Aug. 23, 1861, 
and was mustei'cd out Aug. 30, 181)4. The names, on its mus- 
ter in, or out Roll, and serving on our quota are as follows ; — 



Nathan rf. Day, 
C. A. Clark. 
Hcnj. ¥. Flagg. 

Joseph GaiQcr, 
.Tonas Greeley, 



Henry M Knight, 

Chauncy Norcross. 

Sidney S. Ileywood, 
Franklin A. Eddy, 



IGG 



\ug, 23. '01 Dis'd for disabirity July 9, 1863. 

Date of mustv'^r-out, or discharge lost. 

Re-cnlistcd fuly 1, '(31, Transfered 
to .J7th IJegt. 

Date of muster out or discharge lost. 

Discharged for disability, Apr. 10, 
'03, Re-enlisted in 57th Regt. 

Re-enlisted Jan. 1, '61, killed in bat- 
tle of Wilderness, May G, '64. 

Died of wounds incured at Roanoke 
Island, N. C. Feb. 21, '62. 

Served on detached duty. 
July 19, '611 Dis'd for disability, Apr. 20 '62. 




i>e«ide.s tlieso we have the following names, as serving in this 
Regt., but whose names do not appear on the Rolls of the Adju- 
tant's olhee, John Jiarrus, Marshall Bairus, Addison ri. l>radisli. 
Nelson Riei;, (vharles Pope, Patriek Manning, (dcadj Edwin 
\\)se, (d('ad) Win. II. S))rague, (dead) and IJenry H. Iliggin.><. 

The 2Uh Regt. left for tlie scat of War Oct. 31, 'Gl. A part 
of tlie men W(!re mustered out at the ex[>ii'ation of their three 
years' ser'vice, but (he Ilei>;t. was not fill Julv 25, '05. 





Mustered in 


George W. Barrett. 


Oct. 


t<. '61. 


JoH S. Bosworth, 










George Brown. 


•• 




Martin Burgess. 
Hosca A. Bosworth, 


-• 


.. .. 






Wra. H. Chase. 
John S. Chase, 


.. 


17. •• 


Arthur E. Clement, 
Jay Davis, 
Eyroa Doane. 




P. 

17. ••; 

8, 



Ke-enlisted Jan. 2. '64, Captured at 

Drury's Bluff, Va., May 16, '6-1, 

died at Andorsonville, Ga. 
Captured at Drury's Bluff, Va., May 

16, '04, died, at Andersonville, Ga, 
Died of wounds received at VN'hite 

Hill, N. C. Dec. 16, 02, 
Dis'd Oct «. 64, Expiration of term, 

wounded Jan. 3, '64. 
Dis'd of wounds received at Coal 

Harbor, Va . -June 3, '64, died on 

way home. July 10, '64. 
Mustered out Oct. 20. 1^64. 
Capt'd at Coal Harbor, Juno 3, 1864, 

died at Andersonville Ga. 
Mustered out Oct. 20, 1S64. 

Rc-cniis(e;l Jan. 2, '0^ iliistcrcd out, July 2,'», '65 



David W. Day, 
Aaron A. Grant. 
Wm. H. Howard, 

Stephen W. Martin, 

Wesley D. Goddard, 

J. B. Meller. 
Harlan P. Mctcalf. 
Joseph T. Nichols, 

Nelson F. Peck. 

H. K. Sampson, 

Alex'r. Stewart, 
James B. Smith, 



Henry S. Wood, 
Lyman Wheeler, 



George N. Wheeler, 
Warren L. Wheeler, 



167 

[Mustered in| 

Oct. 17, 'Gli Discharged for disability June 8, '63. 
I •• 8, ••! '• " " March IG, '62. 

Sept.26, '61 Dis'd for disability Feb. 3, '02, Ee- 
I ! enlisted in 36th. 

I Died of fever at Ncwbern, N. C. 

I ' May 16, 1802. 

j Dis'd lor disability, Aug. 4, '62, Ee- 

j I enlisted in 36, and killed in battle. 

I I Mustered out Oct. 20, 1864. 

On detached service. Mustered out. 

i Dis'd for promotion June 10, 1863, 

j com'd 2d, Lieut, in ;").">. July 10,' 63. 

I Corporal from Aug. 1, '64. Mustered 

I out Oct. 20, 1SG4. 

j Corporal from Apr. 27, '63. Re-enlist- 

j ed Jan. 2, '64, Mustered out. 

Mustered out. Oct. 20, 1864. 

: Com'd 1st, Lieut., Oct. 12, '61, Dis'd 

I July 10, '62. Com'd Capt. in 36th 
! Regt. Aug. 22, '62, and Maj. 
i Oct. 12, 64. 

j Dis'd Nov. 6, '63, by order of Sccre- 

] tary of War. 

Sergeant to July 29, '63, Re-enlisted, 

wounded at Drury's Bluff, Va. May 
J 16, '64. 
Oct. 8, '611 Dis'd for disability, Aug. 4, '62. 

; Corpora! from June 24, '63, Mustered 

' out Oct. 20, '64. 



The DBtli, loft for the scat of War. Sept. 2, 1862, and was 
mustered out June. 8, ISi);"). 



I Mustered in 
Adolphus Bussemius, I Aug. 27, '62 

Wm. J. Barrus, 



Harrison C. Blake, 
George W. Bowker, 
George L. Chase, 

Wm. C. Doane, 
Henj. A. Fry, 



Dis'd for disability, March, 17, '65. 
wounded at Coal Harbor. 

Wounded June 3, '64. At Dale Hos- 
pital, Worcester. 

Mustered out. June 8, 1865. 

Paroled i^risoncr, Annapolis, Md. 

Died of wounds at Campbell's Hos- 
pital, Jure, '64. 

Dis'd Dec. 22. '62. 

Mustered out, June 8, 1865. 



IGS 



Mustered in I 



Lucius F. French, 
Sandford Giles, 

Wra. H. Howard, 

Salom T. Tlill, 
Charles S. Knight, 

Frank A. shorn, 

Clarence E. King, 

Henry Russell, 

George W. Raymond 

John Shcpardi=on. 
Nathan S. Tandy, 
Otis K. Upham. 
Arthur Pcircc, 

Benj. Potter. 
Asaph M. White, 
Rollin N. White, 

Stephen V. White. 

Joseph Walker, 



•• 27, 62 
Aug. 27, 'G2 



Aug, 27, 'G2j Mustered out June <s, i.SU.>. 

iDied of wounds rec'd at Spotsylvania. 

I May 12 '(U. 

Date of muster out or discharge not 

! to be found. 

Mustered out. 
Feb. 18, 'G-i Transferred to .")Gth, by Secretary's 
order, June G, 'G.'). 
Transferred to oGth by Secretary's 

order, June 6, 'G">. 
Died of fever at Nicholsvillc, Ky., 

Aug. 2a, 'G.3. 
Died of wounds near Petersburg, Va. 
Aug. 10, 'G4. 
Jan. 13, '64:Dicd of wounds at Coal Harbor, Va. 

; Jan. -1, 64. 
Auc. 27, 'G2,Killcd in action. June 17, '61, 
■ ' ••{Dis'd for disability, Feb. 26. '63. 
.Mustered out. 
Died of Cholera Morbus, at Ilart- 

wood. Va. Nov, 19, 'ii2. 
Dis'd for disability, Sept. 21, '63. 
(Jorporal from Apr 1. '6;'>. Must'd out. 
Died of wounds, at Harwood Hospital 

Juno 25, '64. 
Died of fever, Annapolis, ,Md. May 

f), 'G4. 
Dis'd for disability. Oct. 29. '63. 



The r)3d Re.i^t.. (nine months) left for the war, Nov. 20, 18(;2. 
and were mustered out Sept. 2, 18G3. 



I Mustered inl 



1-5 cnj. H. Hrown, fOct. 17, 'G24st Lieut. Mustered out Sept, 2, '63. 



KnKM'Pon E. Bissell, 
Willis H. Havton, 

Amos P>. Bos worth. 
Joseph W. Boswortb, 

Edward W. Cross, 
Uri C. Day, 



it'orporal, 

•• l\c-onlistcd in r)7th (2il veteran) Mus- 
tered out July 30. '(')') 
••iMii'^tered out. Sept. 2. '63. 
••Dis'd at P>aton Kongo, La. — Died 
soon after getting home of chronic 

I diarrhea. 
: Mu.stcreil out, Sept. 2, '63. 
•• Died of Chionic Diarrhea, at Baton 

i Roucre, La. 



1G9 



I Mustered in I 



Bernard Doane, 
Martin Fallan, 
Alonzo French, 

James N. Hunt, 
George L. Hancock, 

George W. Knight, 

John S. Moore, 
Henry C. Moore, 

Andrew J. Norcross, 
Herman M. Patridge, 

Asa A. Palmer, 
George W. Kusscll, 
Geo. 0. Pvichardson, 
\V. \V. Sherwin. 
'\Vavren 'i'hatcher, 
Charles E.. Tcnnej, 

John M. \\'ood, 

George W. Wood, 
Adriel C White, 



'63. 



Oct. 17, '62J)is'd at New York, Jan. 8, 

flustered out, Sept. 2, '63. 

Corporal from May 1st, '63. Mustered 

I out, Sept, 2 'Go. 

iMustered out, Sept. 2, 'G3. 

Died at Carrolton, La., March 8, 

1 of Chronic Diarrhea. 

Corporal, Died at New Orleans, 

, i 10, '63. 

Mustered out, Sept. 2, 1863. 

Died of Chronic Diarrhea at 

I Orleans, Apr. 29, '63. 

jMustered out, Sept. 2, '63. 

jPro'd Q. M. Sargeant, Oct. 17, 1862 

I Mustered out, Sept. 2, '63. 
{Mustered out, Sept. 2, '63. 



63, 
A pr. 



New 



Died iit New Orleans, La. Apr. 26, 

'63, of Chronic Diarrhea. 
Died at Baton Rouge, La. May 15, '63. 
I of chronic diarrhea. 
Dis'd for disability, Jan. 1, '63. 
Corporal from Oct. 17, 62, Mustered 

out Sept. 2, '63. 



The 32d Rcgt. were organized for garrison duty at Fort 
Warren. It was pent to the seat of war in time to be engaged 
in the battles before Eicdimond. at Anlietam, and Fredericks- 
burg; and we have the following men of this Regt, — a three 
years' Rea:t 





Mustered in 


Allen F. Fish, 


Nov. 28, '61 


Ambrose Clark. 


•• 25, •• 


James Town send, 




Elkanah Paine, 





Dis'd at Convalescent Camp, Va. 

in Jan. 1863 
Dis'd for disability. March 2, 1862. 
Died of disease at Harrison Landing, 

Va., Aug. 5, 1862. 
Re-enlisted Jan. 1st, Sergeant, Mus- 
tered out June 7, 1865. 



170 

Wm. Welsh served in the loth Kei>;t., — dead. 
Henry L. Bennett in the 6tli Battery. 

George A. Flagg in tlie 27th, Mustered in Dee. 14, '04. Dis'd 
for disability. 

Prescott Metcalf, and Levi Bosworth, served as veterans in 

27th. 

INIirick Jjurgess and Aaron Rice enlisted in the N. H. Gth, 
John Nash, Danvas Miles, and George Miles, served in- the N. IT. 
2d. The latter was killed in action. 

We learn from the Adjutant General's Office, that 27 of our 
men Avere mustered out June 26, 18G5; and gathered from the 
Adj't. General's Report of 1863, and '64, that at the close of '63, 
the whole number of men called for from Royalston was 92, and 
that the town had then furnished 100; and that at the; close of 
1864 we still had a surplus of 5 men. 

Franklin Brown was the only drafted man of Royalston, who 
responded in person to the draft. 

Phineas S. Newton put in a substitute — a colored man — paying 
$500. 

The following persons paid tlic $300, commutation. Joseph 
Shepardsou, John B. Walker. Andrew J. Bliss, Pliillip IT. Bliss, 
A. Dwight Raymond, George E. Peirce, George S. TIaymond, 
Reuben Pratt, Wilson Carroll, Charles A, King, Silas Wyman 

Jr., Lysander IJoward, Tjrazia French, John W. Leathe, 

Gun, Caleb Stockwe'l, Chilson T3osworth .h\, Abijah Whitmorc 

It may nor be out of place to insert here the names oi" persons 
born, or bred in Royalstou, who we happen to know have served 
in this war, though not on our quotas. Of course our personal 
knowledge cannot be supposed to have gathered all who would 
properly ))elong to this list. We give such as we are able, with- 
out special investigation. 

Major General Lysander Cutler, of Wisconsin. 

Lieut. Colonel Charles Cummin<2:=i. of Vermont. 



171 

Capt. Andrew J. Richardson, of Wisconsin. 

" Henry J. Howe, of Pennsylvania- 
Lieut. Silas Heywood, of New Hampshire. 
Quarter Master Wrh. 0. Brown, of Fitchburg, Mass. 

'< " Edward A. Brown, now residing in Royalston. 

Sergeant Major Harlan P. Patridge, of Fitchburg, Mass. 
Jefferson Richardson, of N. H. (dea.d) George Fry, of N. H. 
(dead) John D. Emerson, of Athol, Mass. George H. Piper of 
Winchendon, Mass. James S. Piper, of Gardner, Mass. Lysandcr 
B. Piper, of 111. Wellington White, of Michigan, Theodore Jones 
Hill, of Winchendon, Mass. Nelson Wood, of Athol, Mass. (dead) 
Quincy A. Shcpardson. of Petersham, Mass. (dead) 

NOTE T.— PAGE 58. EDUCATION". 

Massachusetts, wlicthcr as a Province or a State, has always 
been true to tlie cause of Education. In the sale and settlement 
of her public lands they imposed conditions, laoking to the estab- 
lishment and nurture of common schools. In the sale of our 
territory, the General Court reserved one sixty third part of the 
whole purchase for this purpose, putting the purchasers under 
bonds to cari-y out their intention. The purchase was for 
28.357 acres, exclusive of sundry private Grants already located 
within the territory. These wore found to amount to 2.300 
aci'cs; making our territory, according to the public surveys, to 
consist of 30. (5.57 acres. We have seen, (page 80.) that the 
purchasers, before they drew lots for tlicmselves, set apart 520 
acres for school iand ; which, instead of being only sixty-third 
part of their purchase, is one sixty-third part of 32.700 ai^res. 
They were not only just, but generous. It will be remembered, 
too, that Hon. Isaac Royal, by his will, gave the town 200 acres 
more for school purposes. Hence it appears that, through the 
provident forethought of the Government and tlie generosity of 
our Proprietors, 720 acres of our township were, from the first, 
sacredly appropriated to the cause of popular education. 



172 

This, indeed, was a good start in the riglit direction ; and we 
liave been more fortunate than some of our sister towns, in being 
able to give a good account of the school-land. The " Old 
ri(;hool Fund," accruing from its sale, now amounts to $1500, and 
is invested, $1,000, in Notes and Mortgages on Real Estate, and 
$500, in U. S. Bonds. The income, in 1864, was $111.45; 
which was divided among the schools as heretofore, in the same 
manner as die yearly appropriations by the town. 

And now we have the '• Bullock Fund " of $5000. carefully 
invested, and its 3'early income, by the terms of the Legacy, to 
be divided in like manner. • It yielded, in 18G4, $438.G5. 

The first action of the town, in relation to the subject before 
us, was a vote, taken in 1TG7 "to lease out the achool land.''' 
Two years later it was voted " to sell the school land for as much 
as it will sell for ; the principal to be a fund for schools, and the 
interest to be applied yearly to pay for schooling." This same 
year the town raised c£3. " in addition to the school interest, to 
hire schooling the present year." The Treasurer, also, charges 
himself this year with <£7 : 10s., lawful money, which the Quarter 
Sessions gave the town lor schooling;" and two orders are 
drawn upon him to pay school teachers. As these are the first 
documents of the kind we find in '' the chest," one of them is 
here inserted. 

To Mr. Peter Woodbury, Town Treasuser : 

Please to pay to Simoon Chamberlain, the sum of eighteen 
shilliiigs, it being for two weeks schooling last February and 
March : and this shall discharge you for so much. 

Royalston, September ye 19th, 1769. 



£0:18:0. ^TF^Z ^^."•^•^^'"^>'' < Select Men. 

retcr VVoodburv. v 



The next year, Capt. John Fry is found exercising still anotlier 
honorable office, and diaws from the town treasury, £2: 10. for 



173 

five weeks school-teaching. The same year, John Crawford 
draws £2. for one month, Simeon Chamberlain £1 : 16s. for one 
month ; and Isaac Esty four shillings for boarding a " School 
Dame." The next year Hannah Richardson, receives eighteen 
shillings and eight pence for teaching school four weeks and 
boarding herself, and Dr. Stephen Bacheller .£3. for teaching 
school seven weeks and boarding himself. In 1777 the town 
voted that " the school money interest, and security be committed 
to the town Treasurer. 

As yet there were no school houses. The schools were accom- 
modated in the dwellings, and sometimes in the barns of the 
settlers; but in 1777 an article came before the town, -'To 
see ii the town will build a school-house as near the meeting- 
house in Royalston as convenient, if not, to see [if the town] 
will give liberty to a number of the inhabitants, near the cen- 
tre, to build a school-house in said place for their own benefit." 
The town declined to build, but granted the liberty asked in that 
alternative. Accordingly a school-house was built near the site 
of the Sibley house, so called. Tradition has preserved the 
names of the hrst three teachers employed in this house. The 
first was a foreigner, by the name of Wood, whose reputation, as 
a teacher, long lingered in the memories of his patrons and 
pupils ; and there are those even now who remember that he was 
esteemed a " very learned man. " The second was Ammi Falk- 
ner, afterwards deacon ; the third Ebenezer Pierce of Warwick, 
afterwards deacon of the Baptist Church, and father of the late 
deacon Ebenezer Pierce of this town. 

The districting of the town proved quite difficult, and was not 
adjusted till after several abortive experiments. In 1781 the 
town was divided into six districts. One of these, however, — 
the south west, — passed from under the jurisdiction of Royalston 
in 1783, and became a part of Orange, leaving us only five dis- 
tricts, — one in tlie centre, one in the cast, one in the north, and 
two in the west part of the town. 



174 

The town was re-districted in 1795, giving us nine districts, 
which coiitinued, with little variation, down to 1820. In 1797, 
as tlic result of much discussion, it was ' voted to build school- 
houses in the several school districts ; and, that equal justice may 
be rendered to individuals, as near as possible, voted that the 
school-houses shall be built as near the centre of the districts as 
the situation of the inhabitants and the roads will admit, and that 
each district may agree on the spot. Voted to choose a com- 
mittee to lay before the town an estimate of the expense of 
building the several school-houses ; and, where there are houses 
built that in their opinion will answer tiie jnirpose, to see how 
they can agree with the proprietors for them ; likewise to report 
the dimensions and method of liiiishing.' The committee con- 
sisted of Capt. Jon'n. Sibley, Mr. Benj. Hutchinson, and Capt. 
Peter Woodbury, who I'cported Feb. 2d, 1797. 

The plan of six of these houses was as follows : 20 by 24ft ; 
9 l-2ft. stud; square root; six windows each with 15 7 by 9 
lights ; the inside walls ceiled ; over head crowning and plastered : 
the seats round the walls on three sides and raised eight inches, 
and eighteen inches from the walls, with a good writing table 
befon^ them and a shelf for books beneath ; scats before the 
tables ; an entrance way at one end of the house six ft. wide : 
two doors to enter tfie room ; and the whole to be finished up in 
workmanlike manner and the outside painted. The three otlier 
houses differed only in dimensions. Estimated cost of all, $2,018, 

Final action on his report was not reached until May 7th, 
1798, when it was adopted and $1500, instead of $2,018, appro- 
priated for the work. A committee, consisting of one from each 
district, was authorized to carry the same into effect. Three 
school houses, — that imder the hill, that in the north ward, and 
that in tlie Arm disti-iitt.— wei-e found of sufficient value to 
recpiire au allowance to the proprietors. The result was, that 
the town secured nine commodious and respectable school-houses. 
one of which, — that in " the city,'' — still i-emains as a specimen 



175 

of the rest ; while the frames of several otliers have been wroncht 
into the structures of the present day. The town found, in tlie 
end, that the original estimate was nearer rig-ht than their appro- 
priation, and had to raise $450. to foot the bills. Since 1820 
three new districts have been added ; and we now have a round 
dozen. 

The school money of Royal ston has generally been divided 
among the districts by a special committee, annually chosen, and 
but occasionally instructed. The general result, we believe, has 
been reasonably satisfactory. 

Since manufufturing centres began to control population, and 
rail-roads have come in to change travel and leave the old centres 
out in the cold, the common lot of back towns and districts has 
fallen heavily upon })arts of Royalston. Our schools used 
to be thronged ; and middle aged citizens i-emembei- when their 
respective schools numbered 40, 60, 75, and even 100. But now, 
in these same districts, we have to reverse the scale, and I'un 
down from 40, to a dozen, and even less. At the same time in 
So. Royalston, where then there was no school, they now require 
two. The last school year their schools, together, numbered 101 
in the summer, and 111 in the winter term. 

During the first third of the present century, when the school 
fund yielded only $50, or $60, and the town raised from $300, 
to $500. a year, quite a number of our nine districts had nearly, 
or (]uite, six months' schooling annually. J)ui-ing the school year 
]8(;4 — 65, the schools of Royalston cost the town $1674.29, 
yielding an aggregate of 67 1-2 months of schooling, or a little 
more than an average of five months to (!ach ol' tin; i)uhlic schools ; 
and at an average cost of $25. per month. Taking the extremes 
of our accomplished history, we have in the school year of 1 864 
— 65, the average cost of schooling $25. per month, while in 
1770, and 1771, Capt. John Fry keeps school five weeks and 
hoards himself for =£2 : 10s. = $8.33 plus ; John Crawford, one 
month for £2. =$6.66, plus ; and the next year Dr. Bachellor keeps 



no 

school seven weeks and boards himself for £3. = $10. Or, if we 
drop the average in the year 1864 — 65, and take the highest 
figures in each period, we have George B. Boyd teaching in 
So. Royalston for $61. board included, in 1864 — (j5, and Dr. 
Stephen Bacheller teaching and boarding himself, in 1772 for 
$5.71 plus; per months. These are rather strong contrasts. 

Royalston has neither graded schools, nor High School, within 
the meaning of the statute. The population is not large enough 
to bring us within the requisition of the law in the last particular, 
while the extent of our territory and the issolated condition of 
our population, prevent or certainly interpose very serious ob- 
stacles in the way of grading the schools. 

There has prevailed a commendable interest, from the early 
times, in providing extra schooling for the advanced pupils. A 
fall school, of a high order, has usually been kept in the middle 
of the town, sustained in part by tuition fees, and the balance 
made up by subscriptions. Several terms of a similar character 
have been well sustained in So. Royalston. 

The supervision of the Public schools of Royalston presents 
much the same history as in other towns. At first the ministers 
were expected to look after this matter. By and by the town 
came into the practice to choose a committee to 'join with the 
ministers in this office, but without expense to the tax-payers.' 
Sometimes this arrangement contributed to the amusement, if 
not the edification of the schools ; teachers and scholars taking 
upon themselves to be quite officious in furnishing the '-committee 
men " with books, especially when the " parsing class " was 
called out. The shrewder part were sure to leave their spectacles 
at home, l)ut occasionally the whisper would go round "He's got 
his book wrong side up," and the like. And the speech-making 
was often rich. But after all, we have sometimes been led to 
ask, " Take it all in all, were there not some rare and far-reach- 
ing elements for good, in the old way, that have unhappily 
fallen out of the new ?" 



177 



One of the measures by which we judge of the general status 
of a community, with respect to education, is found in the num- 
ber of those who pass through the Public schools, and means 
of culture at home, up to the college, the professional schools, 
and into the learned professions. We close this note with the 
ecord of Royalston, in one of these particulars, — the native- 
born of the town, who have graduated from College. We des- 
ignate the deceased as usual, and tliose who devoted themselves 
to teaching, or business without a profession by the f. 

*CTeorge Newton, Esq. Graduated 

* fFranklin Jones " 

Rev. Sidney Holman " 

*Rev. Sylvester Davis '' 

His Ex'y Alexander H. Bullock '' 

■^Prof Nelson Wheeler 

Rev. Jesse K. Bragg '•' 

■'Stephen Holman, 

Rev. Ariel E. P. Perkins 

Hosea Davis, '' 

f C. B. Metcalf, 

Rev. Amory Gale " 

t George B. Newton " 

^Leonard L. Leathe '' 

Rev. Ebenezer Cutler, '' 

Rev. Henry Cummings, " 

Hon. Benjamin C. Perkins, Esij. '' 

*Benjamin S. H. Brown '' 

.). Ormond Wilson '' 

Samuel C. Gale, Esq. " 

Chtirles A. Gregory, Es(i. •* 

•t-Henry M. Harrington , •' 

-I- Charles G. G. Paine 

Rev. Albert Bryant '' 



Amherst 


182!) 


Williams 


1830 ' 


Amherst 


183G 


Yale 


1836 


Amherst 


1838 


Williams 


1839 


Amherst 


1840 


Dartmouth 


1842 


Yale 


1842 


Brown Un'y 


1843 


Yale 


1843 


Amherst 


1843 


Un'y of Vt., 


1845 


Amherst 


1847 


Dartmouth 


1848 


Harvard Un'y 


1850 


Dartmouth 


1850 


Yale 


1854 


Harvard Un'y 


1865 


Amherst 


1860 


« 


1861 


u 


1862 



178 

Several natives of Royalston entered college, but, for various 
reasons, did not complete their course. 

Rev. David Shepardson nearly completed the full course. 

Rev T. Willard Lewis left college at the close of his 8d yeai-. 

*Dr. Daniel C. Perkins was 2 1-2 years in college. 

*Rufus Henry Bullock one year. 

*Ephraim Richardson had nearly or quite completed his col- 
lege course, when he died. 

We mention last the Rev. Ammi Nichols, son of Dea. Isaac 
Nichols, born in town, 1781. Tho' he graduated at no college 
he obtained a good education, passed through a regular course of 
Theological study under the instruction of Rev. Asa Burton, D. 
D., of Thctford, Vermont, and has been in the ministry for more 
than 60 years. 

NOTE U— PAGE 60. LONGEVITY IN ROYALSTON. 

The following list of Royalston men and women, who have 
died at an advanced age, has been niade u]), in good part, by vo- 
searches among our grave yards. But many a grave has no 
headstone to tell aught of its occupant ; and not a few headstones 
have lost the power of utterance. These facts, together with the 
recollections still lingering among us of very aged perso7is, of 
" the days of whose years," there remains neither record nor 
monument, assure us that our list is far from complett;. 

It may bo remarked that the. longevity of the jx'ople of Roy- 
alston has l)een as remarka])le Avithin the last generation, as in the 
earlier days. In 1887. live persons dii^d ag<Ml resj)e('tivoly 8"). 
86, 87, 88, 94. In 1840, live ])ers()ns died aged 82. 85, 87, iXJ. 
96. In 1843, we have 80, 81, 84, 84, 88, 89. In 1849 ,--82, 
86, 88, 89, 96. In 1850,-86, 88, 89,91, 94. The next year, 
—82, 86, 90, 90, 96. In 1856.— 80, 80, 85, 88, 88. In 1859, 
—81, 82, 83, 85, 85, 85. In 1864,-81, 91, 93. 



179 

Age 105 yrs. Mrs. Susannah Carpenter. 

'' 98 " David Mead. 

", 97 " Lois Eager, Ruth Bliss. 

" 96 " Sarah Beal, Benjamin Hutchinson, Aaron Bliss, 
Betsey Cozens. 
95 '' John Fry. 

" 94 " Alice Clement, Mary Bullock. 

" 98 " Mrs. Henry Peck, Wm. Ellis, Jonas Allen, Mar- 
tha Davis, Lydia Walker. 

" 92 " Elizabeth Allen, Benj. Eddy, Ainia Hale Bliss, 
Rebekah Sibley, Squier Davis. 

" 91 " Thomas Perry, Samuel Felch, David Cook, Tam- 
er Bliss, Geo. Coffin, Robert Thompson. 

" 90 " Wm. Brewer, Mrs. Wm. Brewer, Obadiah Walk- 
er, Jon'n Cutler, Esther Hill, Nathan Bliss. 

'^ 89 " Mary Waite, Ruth Beal, Hannah Perry, Simeon 
Stockwell. 

" 88 " Jon'n Bos worth, Mrs. Aaron Grant, Joel Miles, 
Sophia Raymond, Nathan Reed, Sally Stock- 
well, Henry Nichols, Hope R. Hale, Mary 
Bacheller, Mary Holman. 

u 87 '* Timothy Richardson, Mrs. Joseph Stockwell, 
Mrs Hewes, Mrs. Joseph Emerson, Mrs. Rich- 
ardson, Mehitable Clark, Mary Felch, Elizabeth 
Kendall, Marsilvia Chase. 

" 86 " Sarah Green, Jonas Allen, Rebekah Black, Mrs. 
John Fry, Joseph Stockwell, Mrs. Ellis, Silas 
Bowker, Mrs. Smith, Sarah Waite, Thomas 
Beal, Joseph Emerson, Sarah Hubbard, Eliza- 
beth Richardson, David Fisher, Susey Allen, 
Betsey Hale. 

" 85 " Mrs. Shumway, Mrs. Blanchard, Martha Davis, 
Hugh Bullock, Silas Chubb, Elizabeth Benuet, 
Ruth Bstabrook, Elijah Nichols, Rebekah Ken- 



180 

dall, Polly Clement, Lois Goodard, Hannah 
Estabrook. 
Age 84 yrs. Mary Town, Mrs. Ezekial Cutler, Mrs. Maclellan, 
Elizabeth Cutler, Reuben Walker, Amos Jones. 
Mary Pierce, Eunice Felton, Enoch Wliitmore. 
Sarah Chase, Ebenezcr Chase, Sophia Davis. 
Stephen Richardson. 

" 83 " Henry Nichols, Mrs. Holman, Moses Maclellan. 
Stephen Bachellcr, Asahel Davis. 

" 82 '' Samuel Felch, Moses Pratt, Timothy Richardson, 
Mary Hutchinson, Mrs. Cumrainti's, Thos. Blod- 
gett, Mary Emerson, Hannah Thurston, Nathan 
B. Newton, Judah Stockwell, Becca Pratt, Sa- 
rah Chamberlain, John Burbank. Asa Walker. 

" 81 " Rogers Chase, Thankful Blanchard, Josiah Piper. 
Alexander Parkman Davis, Sarah Bragg, Shu- 
bel Blanding, Elizaljeth Leach, Daniel Wood- 
bury, Moses Garfield, Deborah Davis, Willard 
Newton. 

" 80 " Mrs. Bosworth, Mrs. Poor, Mrs. Nichols. Mrs. 
Shepardson, William Town, Mehitable Nichols. 
Nathan Cutting, Josiah Hicks, Mehitable Allen. 
Paul Church, Joshua Hewes, Elijah Walker. 
Esther Hill, Mary Moore, Daniel Shepardson. 
Percis Woodbury. 

NOTE v.— PAGE 63. INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS AND RESULTS. 

Royalston began as an agricultural town ; and so continued 
for half a century. But farmers were then art.isa?is, and their 
families (junsi manufacturing establishments. They had their 
shops for stormy days, winter evenings and leisure hours, wlun-c 
they made and mended farming tools and household utensils. 
The shoeing, of all kinds, was either done at home, or by ex- 
change of labor and skill with some neighboring Crispin, or 
Smith, who was also a farmer, and turned to his last or forge, as 



181 

the good housewife to her knitting, only in the intervals of other 
work. Indeed, almost every thing needful for a plain and sub- 
stantial life was secured by mutual helpfulness, to the great 
saving of money, and the greater growth of good neighborhood. 
Thus there was a common property so to speak,. in the eight 
saw-mills, four grist-mills, six tanneries, two brick-yards, two 
potashes, the oil-mill, the clothier's mill, and all the shoe-shops, 
smithies, cider-mills, <fec. <fec., of the town. And as the farmers 
raised and dressed flax, a flax-break a swingling-knife, and a 
hatchel were as necessary in the outfit of a barn, or a hovel, as a 
pitchfork, or a flail. Sugar and molasses were home-made ; and he 
was accounted a poor farmer who could not make sap-taps, 
troughs and buckets, or who would not spend time enough among 
the rock-maples, in the Spring weeks, to supply his family. 

But madam, also, and the girls were something more than 
house-keepers. They had their /(i<-f.ory chamber from whence the 
hum of the big and the little wheel, and the click of the shuttle, 
told of active brains and skillful fingers on the other side of the 
house, and of a thrifty within doors, rightfully claiming equal part- 
nerships in the concern. Woolens and linens from these cham- 
bers had no taint of shoddy about them, and, when made up into 
garments by the same hands that carded, spun and wove them, 
they wore as though seam, button-hole and fabric vied with each 
other to put honor on the fair makers. They may not have been 
as fine in texture, as glossy in surface, or in cut as stylish, as 
those of to-day ; but they had the breath of home in them — were 
comfortable and durable, putting no one in mortal fear of rip, or 
rent, on the slightest occasion — no one who wore them, so far as 
we learn, ever went to jail to pay wife or mother, daughter or 
sister, for his wardrobe ; and in those days, it required no city 
tailor, or Parisian rnantna maker, to get up a man or a woman. 

[s it any M'^ondcr the young people early went in for these 
simple, but sound, corporations, the basis of whose Stock was 
.strong liands and willing hearts ? — any wonder, either, that these 



182 

enterprises, encumbered neither by silent partners nor fancy 
stock, seldom proved a misadventure ? All the elements of suc- 
cess were intrinsic with the parties, and mutual interests, well 
trained and ripened by early expciience, made the toil and care 
of achieving it no ungrateful task. 

Hence new farms, and productive centres sprang up as by 
magic, bringing the town forward rapidly. Royalston soon 
began to export, not her people or her forests, as in later days, but 
the products of agriculture, — grain, beef, pork, mutton and poul- 
try. These the lai'raers marketed themselves, taking them to 
Boston, and the loAver towns, on their own teams, and bringing 
back such family stores as were necessary, and the balance in 
good lawful money, wherewith to pay their taxes, replace log- 
(;abins with Irame-houses, enlarge their farms, and settle oif the 
children. Other articles were often added, — a little surplus of 
wool, of dressed f]ax, yarn or thread, sometimes a web of woolen 
oi" linen cloth — a little maj>!e sugar, and often some wooden 
notions, wrought in leisure hoius by t!ie cunning Yankee farmer, 
or his boys. All these were stowed in the wagon, or sleigh ; 
iound ready sale in the market, and helped to swell the incomes 
<jf the forefathers. The tanneries frequently produced more 
leather than was needed foi- home consumption, and the surplus 
was sent ofi' to the market. And good honest leather it was, too, 
tanned after the old style, and not antkt'.d in boiling extract, and 
the scraps glued together for sole-leather. The potashes, too, 
wrought in the common course ; and William Jcrrel, the hatter, 
bore a hand in keeping the balanc(i of trade in favor of the town. 
Him we must pause to commemorate, so far at least, as to state, 
that liberty was granted him, in 1780,10 build a hatter's shop 
upon th'! [)ub!i;5 square, and Ov'.cupy the groinul so long as he 
r.ontinued tlu> hatter's business thereon. For many years he 
furnished the people with hats, and became also their factor 
iu the fur trade, thus in more ways than one, making himself 
quite an acquisition to the town. There was another hatter iu 



183 

the uciirhborhood of Lawrence falls ; but we suspect that he 
found little encoui-agement, for, departing our limits, he left not 
even his name behind him. But there was a cluthicr in that vi- 
cinity, one Benjamin May, who did the town good service. He 
built first at the base of the great Falls, but soon after moved up 
stream, to, or near, the site of Amos Doane's unique concern, 
where he scoured and fulled the home-mades of the people. His 
business passed into the hands of Joel Noiirse, about the begin- 
ing of the present century. Mr. Nourse built the dam north of 
the red pail-shop ; erected a blacksmith-shop, in which he run a 
trip hammer, and a nail-cutting machine, and got under his con- 
trol the oil-mill, the clothier's mill, and about all the business of 
the neighborhood. This was the first considerable movement, 
looking toward innovation in our industrial pursuits. It soon 
however ceased to be alarming ; and our first half century closed 
with the agricultural .ftar riding high, and unchallenged, in the 
ascendant. 

But since then the times have changed, and Royalston has 
changed with them. Farming is no longer regnant; while the 
division of labor is carried out so sharply, and the competitions 
of mechanics, manufactures and tradesmen is so close, that it is 
vain to attempt any thing but farming in the country ; and we 
must drive ofl' to the centers of business out of town, for the supply 
• of almost every earthly want. Our shoe-shops, smithies, grist- 
mills and cidcr-niills, have fallen into the dmil number; while 
our oil-ini!l. clothier's mill, carding-mill, hatter's shop, trip-hammer 
iiail-my.chine, potashes, brick-yards, and tanneries have all, and 
utterly disappeared. And so have the fartory chambers, and all 
(of inanimate make and mould) that once graced them, is packed 
away in the attic, if not long since consigned to the flames. We 
shall never again give the Commonwealth a Governoi* who will 
' remember to have passed, in early evening, to the sweet sleep of 
childhood under the icolian cadence of the spinning-wheel.' 



184 

But saw-mills have imiltiplied under this f^reat industrial 
chausje. We liave now thirteen, and all supplied with modern 
appliances for converting: our forests into lumber, or else stock 
for wooden ware; while hard by them ai'e the shops in which a 
poi'tion of this stock is made into pails, chairs, brush- woods, boxes 
shoe-pea's, and numerous otliei- articles of merchandise. The 
residue of the stock is sent out of toAvn, by car and wagon-loads, 
to more capacious manufactories. 

The statistics, returned to the Secretary's Office for the last 
year, report 1.440.000 feet of lumber prepared for the market; 
280 cords of staves and oO M. of shingles ; chair stock got out to 
the value of $5,650 ; 32.000 chairs made in town ; 36.000 pails, 
$10,866 worth of brush-woods; 6.000 luishels of shoe-pegs; 
$12,000 worth of other wooden wares; 1,585 cords of fire-wood 
and bark prepared for the market, and 200 bushels of charcoal; 
all of which runs up an aggi-egate of $86.55(5. 

The fathers lived in the forests ; their children live o/f of them. 
We are getting out of the woods, and • a man is famous, accord- 
ing as he lifts up axes upon the th'wk troes " — certainly a man is 
accounted rich as he has thick frees upon which to lifl; up axes. 

Manuta'Huring has l)ecn essayed at several points since the 
begining of the last half centuiy. Dea. Joseph Sawyer, by diver- 
ting the waters of Little Pond from their natural out-let. and 
leading Ihcm around, by means of a canal, to the hollow, north 
of the nnnnion. j)rociii(Ml wat<M--jH)Wcr for his cabinet-shop, in 
which he, and, after him, D<'a. St>t!i Flolniaii and his sop, Stth N. 
ITolman, continued, till quite i"e(;ently. the manufacture of Pine 
Furniture. A dam was built below this shd]), and upon it a 
wheel-wvight, and carriage shop erected, in which some business 
was done ("or a time. Neither of th(>se wattn- powers are now 
used ; and we see no good reason why the natural out-let of Lit- 
tle Pond should not be re-openod and its waters, no longer in 
bondage to man, allowed to run singing along in their primeval 
and romantic channel, down to Long Pond and the classic TuUy- 



185 

And we should like to pee the now useless, unseemly, and un- 
healthy canal filled up. 

The whecl-wright shop is now used by the Messrs Chas. H. and 
Phineas S. Newton as a Palm Leaf shop. The last year they 
prepared 18.000 pounds of Leaf, and put it out to be l^raidcd 
into Hats, notch-braid, and woven into Shaker Webs and Binds. 
The estimated value of the Palm Leaf Inisinesss, carried on in 
town, is $12,000. 

After Joel Nourse left town, Benjamin Bragg became propri- 
etor of his privilege, and contimied awhile the clothier's business. 
He added machinery for wool-carding and afterwards engaged 
in the manufacturing of Satinets, fie was burned out in 1850; 
xince whit'li time the neighborhood of the Falls has furnished no 
manufacturing business except such as is connected with tlie saw- 
mill and pail-shop. 

'• The Royalston Cotton and Wool Manufacturing Company " 
was incorporated in 1813. Eight persons were named in the 
Act. The company erected a Mill on the site now occupied by 
the Woolen Mill at So. Royalston. We understand that the 
company was not very successful. One member after another 
sold out, and the whole concern came into the hands of Silas 
Coffin and Rufus Bullock. This Mill was burned in 1833; and 
Mr. Bullock became the sole proprietor of the privilege, and the 
property appertaining thereto. The next year he built the Stone 
Mill, still standing; put in ibur sets of woolen machinery, and 
continued to run them till his decease. Hon. George Whitney 
is now the proprietor — has expended a good deal of money in 
additions and improvements, and, according to the statistics of 
the town, for the last year, there wore 160.877 pounds of scoured 
wool worked up in the mill, producing 166.{)73 yards of cassi- 
nun-e, valued at $233,346. 

Since the starting of this second Mill, So. Royalston has been 
steadily pushing on upon the rising scale. It is now secui-ely es- 
tablished as the center and seat of Royalston business. Miller's 



180 

rivor licrc makes one of its irraceful Lends, just as though intent 
on uivino- us a goodly stretch of water-power ; and here also the 
l^ail-Road strikes us just at the fitting ))laee. Thus are blended 
the two great powers, which, in modern times, rule and control both 
business and population. We indicate the result, thus far bv tlie 
following statement. In 1833 So. Royalston contained 10 dwell- 
ing houses, a saw and grist mill, and a factory in ashes. Now. 
the factory, risen, Phenix-likc. from its ashes, stands at the head 
of thronging mills, shops, and Ijusiness operations, while two 
meeting-houses, two stores, a depot, public house, liver^'-stable, 
and 78 dwelling houses, justify So. Royalston, in claiming to be 
catalogued among the vigorous and promishig New England 
villages. 

We add the statistics of agriculture from the same report. 
1 63 farms small and great ; 8.220 bushels of grain of all kind ; 
15.760 bushels of vegetables; 2.429 tons of hay: 1.053 neat 
cattle; 435 sheep; 207 horses; 115 swine; income from ))oultry 
and eggs sold $580; value of honey $288; value of maple sugar 
$1,400. 

NOTE W.— PAGE 66. BURIAL GROUNDS. 

Of these there are nine in town, besides family yards, and 
places where one, or only a few bodies have been interred. 

The oriiyual bui-ial ground was projected by the Proprietors, 
and occupied the east side of the public S({uare. Several inter- 
ments were made on this ground; but being found very unsuita- 
ble for the purpose, it was exchanged for a lot lying sonth-west 
of the original plot, and on the south side of the Athol road. 
Subse(|ucntly the town added some acres to this lot and enclosed 
the whole with a stone w:ill. It has also a i-eceiving tomlt and 
a hearse-house fronting upon the road ; and hither, from year to 
year, for more than a century, have many of the dead of Royal- 
ston been bprne to their last' sleep. 



187 

A small yard was early inclosed near the first Baptist meeting 
house, and numbers of the forefathers were buried there ; but it 
now lietli waste, and the forest usurps the field of the dead. Our 
centennial Poet gathered one of his Garlands from this ' grave 
yard below the hill.' 

A family lot lies nearly opposite the residence of Mr. Nathan 
Bliss, just east of " the city." Here are the graves of his ances- 
tors, and some of his own family, with but a step between the 
habitation of the living and the dead. 

North-west from here, and near the line of Richmond, is still 
anothei- early grave yard ; and occasionally even now some relict 
of the original families of this neighborhood makes dying request 
to be buried there, by the side of kindred dust ; but, with the 
exception of one or two family iiiclosurcs, this field also lieth 
waste, and the traces of former care lor these ancient graves are 
fast being obliterated. 

Another field of graves, well walled, having a receiving tomb, 
and still frequented by the solemn processions, lies upon a com- 
manding eminence near the Warwick line, and south west from 
the old Baptist common. The public road used to wind up by 
this yard ; but, since it was turned and carried to the foot of the 
hill, this burial place is less accessible. 

Still another congregction of the dead is found on the original 
farm of Ephraim Hill ; and long rows of graves tell of the large 
families that once made this section of the town quite populous. 

A small neighborhood grave yard has lately been laid out on 
the farm of Eri Shepardson, about a mile from the Athol line. 
It is deeded to the proprietors, well inclosed and thus far neatly 
kept. 

So. Royalston has two yards. The old one lies directly east 
of the Mefhodist church, and in the very heart of the village. It 
is now seldom, if ever, used for burial purposes ; and its removal 
is a matter of debate. To the east of the village, and lying up 
pleasantly from Miller's river and west of the road here running 



188 

iiortli, is the new yard, fenced, a receiving tomb on the east side, 
iron tint? the road, well kept, and fast fillini? up with graves. 
The tiling to be regretted about this yard is, that the living tide 
nuist ere long sweep over and beyond it, raising the same pain- 
ful debate, wliich now exists with respect to the old yard. 

Shortly before the decease of Hon. Rufus Bullock, he became 
much interested in establishing a new cemetery near the middle 
of the town. Having secured the co-operation of several gen- 
tlemen, citizens of the town, a lot was purchased, lying up from 
the east bank of the Lawrence, and a short distance south of the 
road leading to So. Royalston, from which an open and good 
avenue leads to the grounds. The grounds have been fenced, a 
gate and receiving tomb, fronting the avenue, erected ; and the 
grounds themselves partially laid out, and some little work done 
upon them. I^ut the original {>laii, in respect to the ground, still 
remains to be canied out by the legal pioprietors. It will be 
seen that Mr. Bullock, who was suddenly removed by death while 
this work was in progress, provided by his will, in case the town 
accepted of his legacy — see Sixteenth Item — for the proper care 
of tliis cemetery, u-hcn establhlud. The town has accepted of the 
legacy, and theieby become the custodian of the fence, gate, 
receiving toml), and the ground, "to keep the same, or cause 
them to be kept, in a good state of repair, that is to say, to main- 
tain in good order and condition the said ground, fence, gate and 
receiving tomb." We have no doubt, the town as soon as thc 
grounds are once jntf In good order and condition, will sacredly 
Ciilfil this trust, and keep faith with him, whose l)ody now rests 
irom its labors in tlic spot lie hud already in part prepared for 
it ere he was culled away. 

Hitherto there had been no measures adopted for assuring 
those who *' fall asleep " that their graves, their monuments, and 
their surroundings, should have safe and sacred kee[)ing. One 
isolated liehi of graves after another has been given over to 
desolation, au<i the same fate seems little else than a question 



189 

of time with respect to the rest. It is no pleasant anticipation 
of the living, thouo-h powerfully suggested by passing events, that 
future generations may stumble upon their graves among the 
pastures and woodlands, or that their monuments may be en- 
dangered by the " loging " operations of an enterprising future. 
Hence it is no wonder that anxiety is felt, to look up the title 
deeds, if there be any, and provide if possible, for some better 
keeping of the graye yards. 

There has been one instance in Royalston, and but one, to our 
knowledge, of grave-robbing. In July of 1 823, Mr. Jarvis- Weeks, 
while passing through the belt of woods, which skirts the south- 
cast shores of Little Pond, came upon a newly made booth, which 
excited his suspicions. He called upon Mr. Peter Woodbury, 
and returned with him to make examination. They found a 
grave-robe, and fragments of a human body. Cloing thence to 
the gi-ave-yard they found cause to suspect that the newly made 
grave of Daniel Forbes had been disturbed. It was opened, and 
the body was not there. At this time several medical students 
were studying with Dr. Bacheller. Two of these were arrested ; 
and two made good their escape. A set of human bones, lately 
prepared, was found in the possession of one of the former. 
His companion turned State's evidence ; in process of time he 
was convicted of disinterring the body of Daniel Forbes, and due 
penalty awarded him. 

This outrage produced great excitement, and for a long time 
the new graves were watched with painful anxiety. 

A brother of Daniel Forbes, gathered up the bones that had 
been thus feloniously taken from their grave, and secretly buried 
them in the yard below the hill,, carefully concealing all indica- 
tions of their locality. 



190 



THE OLD BURYING GROUND. 



BY WHITTIER. 



Our vales are sweet with fern and rose, 

Our hills are maple crowned ; 
But not from these our fathers chose 

The village burying ground. 

The dreariest spot in all the land 

To death they set apart ; 
With scanty grace from Nature's hand, 

With none from that of Art. 

A winding wall of mossy stone, 

Frost-flung and broken, lines 
A lone acre thinly grown, 

With grass and wandering vines. 

Unshaded smites the Summer sun, 

Unchecked the Winter blast ; 
The school-girl learns the place to shun, 

With glances backward cast. 

For thus our fathers testified — 

That he might read who ran — 
The emptiness of human pride, 

The nothingness of man. 

They dared not plant the grave with flowers. 

Nor dress the funeral sod. 
When, with a love as deep as ours, 

They left their dead with God. 



191 

ELIZABETH LADY TEMPLE. 

Royalston has had at least one titled land holder. Lady Tem- 
ple, widow of Sir John Temple, baronet, once owned 800 acres 
of our soil. There is lying before us a deed of two 200 hundred 
acre lots, — Nos. 39 and 40 — running to Squier Davis, with her 
Ladyship's signature subscribed. There is also a letter, from 
Thomas S. Winthrop, addressed to Henry Goddard, recorded 
vol. L page 63, (supplement) of the town's Records, appointing 
the said Goddard agent for Lady Temple, to pay her annual 
taxes on two other 200 acre lots — Nos. 37, and 57, and to " take 
particular care that no trespass be committed on said lots." 

All of these lots were originally drawn by John Erviug Esq., 
hut became the property of James Bowdoin, the second Govern- 
or of the State of Massachusetts. Upon his decease they were 
set off, in the division of his estate, to his daughter, Elizabeth, 
tiie wife of Sir John Temple. 

Her husband was born at Nodde's Island, (now East Boston,) 
hut belonged to one of the most ancient families of the English 
nobility ; founded, it is claimed, by Leofric, Earl of Mercia, — 

" that griinEarl, who ruled 



In Coventry;" 

and who married — 

" The woman of a thousand summers back, Godiva," 

celebrated in one of Tennyson's poems. 

Lord Palmerston, late Premier of Great Britian, was of the 
same Saxon family, and even as simple Henry John Temple, 
could look down upon all the Normandy descended nobles of 
the realm. 

Sir John was some time Lieut. Governor of the Province of 
New Hampshire. Afterward he became the eighth English Bar- 
onet of his name. He was also made Baronet of Nova Scotia. 
He was Surveyor General of Customs in England and held oth- 
er honorable offices under the crown, when, in 1774, on account 



192 

of becoming implicated with Dr. Franklin in exposing the per- 
fidious plots of the loyal government against the chartered 
rights and just liberties of the American colonies in general, 
and Massachusetts in particular, he was dismissed, on the same 
day witli Franklin, from all office. He thus lost a thousand 
pounds sterling, per annum ; but kept a good conscience, and a 
bright Whig record; while he endeared himself to all true lov- 
ers of liberty and public honor. 

It is grateful to find our titled proprietress deriving her digni- 
ty from so staunch a friend of the American cause ; and not less 
grateful to know that Lady Temple proved herself every way 
worthy of the ancient and noble family in which once shone that 
bright particular star, the Lady Godiva, of Coventry memory. 

It will discover but the ordinary weakness of human nature 
if we make a further note of the legitimate preteusions of Roy- 
alston. 

John Hancock, the first Governor of our State, and for twelve 
years our Chief Magistrate, was also, it will be remembered, a 
large pro})rietor in our soil, holding 11 of the original lots in his 
own individual right, and being joint partner in all the common 
and undivided lauds of the town. And now we see that James 
Bowdoin, the second Governor of the State of Massachusetts, 
was also a proprietor in our town. Thus our first two Chief 
Magistrates, if not native born, or bred, were land-holders and 
tax-payers in Royalston. Add now, that his Excellency, our 
present Governor, is both Royalston born and bred, and we may 
rejoice in the promise. " And their nobles shall be of them- 
selves; and their Governor shall pro(;ecd from the midst of 
them." 

PUBLIC GATHERINGS. 

The location of Royalston would not suggest large conven- 
tions of the people; nevertheless such things have happened 
here, and with never a failure. 



193 

The town has witnessed three musters, — one in 1811, or 12, 
one in 1 823, and one in 1 829, But with a resident Major General, 
near a dozen Colonels, several Majors, and at least a score of 
live Captains, it is no wonder that some of those old gala-days 
found welcome even in this out-post of Worcester County. 

But the gathering was reserved for 1 840, during the Log-cab- 
in canvass. Through the kindness of D. A. Goddard, Esq., 
of the Worcester Spy, we have been favored with the copy of 
a brilliant report of the day, published in the Boston Atlas at 
the time, — from which, and our own reminiscences, we briefly 
sketch the occasion. 

The Whig Association of Rayalston had invited General Wil- 
son, of Keeiije, to address them on Saturday, May 30th, of that- 
famous year. Notice had been posted in no few of the adjacent 
towns ; and the Royalston Whigs soon ascertained that tlie peo- 
ple would l)e upon them in force, resolved to convert their little 
town affair into a pageant. They set themselves to prepare for 
the emergency, built a cabin of white birch logs, and an awning 
of green boughs; and had all things arranged in good time. At 
sun-rise, Saturday morning, the national flag was displayed above 
tlie platform ; and, at the tiring of a heavy gun in the distance, 
a fine company of mounted Whig A^oters of Royalston, under the 
command of Capt. John Whitmore, rode rapidly northward to 
receive the Fitzwilliam artillery, who were on their march to do 
escort duty to their old General. Thus reinforced they took the 
Keene road, received the General, and a rich brass band from 
Keene, with military salute, and conducted them to their quarters. 
Captain Whitmore and his company then rode south, and soon 
returned, escorting, the united lines of Petersham, Barre, Phil- 
lipston and Athol to the common. It was a triumphal process- 
ion of carriages, one mile and a half in length, some of the vehi- 
cles containing from 20 to 30 men, and well appointed with 
bands, whose music filled tlie air. Then came in the line from 
the east, in which were united the stout and true whigs of Hub- 



194 

bardston, Templeton, Gardner, and Winchendon, inspired by 
music, and their carriages refreshed with abundance of green 
boughs. Any fiend of the administration, who watched the ap- 
pearances, must have had some of the apprehensions that strug- 
gled in the breast of poor Macbeth, when, in the hour of his over- 
throw, he saw the revengeful army approaching Dunsinane with 
branches of the Biniam wood waving over them : 
" and now a wood 



Coraes towards Dunsinane." 

This line was more than a mile in length. One carriage from 
Winchendon contained a small army of seventy whig voters ; 
another from Templeton was crowded with fifty. 

Pictorial insignia, with telling mottoes, illustrated the banners, 
— those proof sheets of the coming elections. 

Thus gathered the people from abroad ; while the Whigs of 
Royalston, men, women and children, all holding themselves 
personally responsible for the success of the day, made up the 
thousands, who thronged the common, marched through the Log- 
Cabin, and gathered, at least 3000 strong, before the platform, 
a little past noon, to listen to their chosen leaders — Hon. Rufus 
Bullock presided as President of the Day, and Col. Benjamin 
Brown acted as Chief Marshal. Messrs Lee and Mason of 
Templeton, Stevens of Athol, Parkhurst of Petersham, l^ryant of 
Barre, Davenport of Mendon, and Alex, H. Bullock of Royalston, 
spoke briefly, but happily of Whig principles, and Whig prospects. 
They were often interrupted by the enthusiastic cheers of the 
audience, and the deep-toned cannon. 

General Wilson followed ; and for two hours and a quarter 
beguiled his hearers of all consciousness, except that of the 
presence of the Orator, his eloquence, his theme. 

An abundant entertainment of crackers, cider, cheese and 
accompaniments, closed the day, all the doings of which had been 
marked by the richest enthusiasm of that exciting canvass, which 
bore " Tippacanoe and Tyler too " to an overwhelming victory. 



195 



WARNING OUT OF TOWN. 

Under the early laws the last legal settlement of any person, 
laid the town, wherein it was effected, liable for his support and 
the support of his family should they come to want. Such settle- 
ment was secured by peaceable residence within the limits of a 
town. As a precautioning measure, therefore, the towns were 
allowed a veto on new comers ; and the Selectmen might issue 
their precept to any constable of the town to warn out such per- 
sons from their limits. The effect of this process was to prevent 
a legal settlement, whether the warnings were obeyed or not. 
To make this system the more effective no citizen might harbor 
persons or familiee from abroad without giving written notice to 
the selectmen setting forth the names, the last settlement, and 
the pecuniary Statm of the same. 

As this warning affected neither the rights nor interests of 
those upon whom it was served, except in this particular only^ 
it became the practice of many towns to make a clean thing of 
it, and serve the injunction up^n all alike, who came to town to 
reside. 

Several pages of our records are taken up with these proceed- 
ings, and the names of persons who afterwards became promi- 
nent citizens, and established very respectable families, are found 
under this ban. We find no instance in which those, who were 
warned to " depart the limits of the town within fifteen days," 
heeded the mandate. After the change of the Poor Laws, this 
rather hard looking process ceased to be practiced. 
. We give a single example of warning out, suppressing names 
merely. 

<* Worcester, ss. To either of the Constables of the town of 
Royalston in the county of Worcester ; Greeting. 
You are, in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 
directed to warn and notify , wife and children, 



196 

who lately came into this town of Royalston for the purpose of 
abidliii;- therein, not havint^ obtained the town's consent, that they 
depart the limits thereof in fifteen days from the date hereof; 
and of this precept, with your doings hereon, you are to make 
return into the Office of the Town Clerk of Royalston in twenty 
days next coming, that such further proceedings may be had 
thereon as the laws direct. 

Given under our hands and seals at Royalston." &c. 
Worcester, ss. Royalston. . 

In obedience to this precept I have warned and given notice 

to , and his, to depart the limits of this town of 

Royalston, by leaving an attested copy of this precept at their 
last and usual place of abode. , 

. Constable for Royalston. 

Attest : , Town Clerk of Royalston. 

PERSECUTION OP THE BIRDS. 

Royalston, in common with other towns, for a long time joined 
in this cruel business, setting a price on the heads of some, and 
giving up all to the mercy of men and boys with shotted guns in 
their hands. The bounty for an old crow was 25ct8., for a young 
one half that sum, and for a crow-black bird 6 l-4cts. The 
victims were to be brought to the authorities " to have their 
heads cut off." Later the scale of bounties was reduced, and at 
length the black bird was let off. The town, also, paid bounties 
only to th(; inhabitants, and for birds killed within their own 
limits, requiring the recipients to make oath in the premises. 

In 1818, about tiie time the property qualification for voting 
was taken oil", the General Court began to legislate for the pro- 
tection of lii(^ birds: but. fec^ling their Avay into a new era, they 
left it with the town to decide annually whither the bird-laws 
sijould be raforeed within their limits. This gave the champions 
of the birds, so far as they had any, the opportunity to plead 



197 

their cause each year, and call their fellow citizens to show their 
hand by open vote. Royalston held to her old faith many years, 
voting to suspend the operation of the said laws, another, and 
still another year. And here, too, long continued the old fashioned 
" hunting-matches,'' which usually came off on Election Day, — a 
fearful Bartholomew Day for the poor birds, which were pitilessly 
sliot down in orchard, grove and forest, to swell the quotas of 
the " match." 

It was not only a rational and convenient thing in itself, but 
it proved beneficent in respect to the feathered tribes, when the 
date of our political year was transferred from the last Wednes- 
day of May to the first Wednesday of January, since which time 
this annual onslaught upon the birds has gradually been given 
up. Indeed wiser and better counsels have now become domi- 
nant; and the birds are not only tolerated, but their many 
virtues are conceded. Many love them for their beauty and 
their songs ; and more, perhaps, cordially accept of them as 
their natural and most efiicient ally against the vandal hordes of 
insects, whose ravages are the terror of farmer and orchardist. 

OBSOLETE TOWN OFFICERS. 

Several of the early municipal offices have nearly, or quite, gone 
out of date. The Reeves, once annually elected with all gravity, 
are now seldom brought forward in the town house, except to 
make the people sport. Deer long since departed the limits of 
the town ; and as they on longer require a Steward to look after 
them the office of Deer-Reeve is practically abolished. While 
the old style of swine was in vogue, and the question of letting 
them '• run at large, ringed and yoked as the law directs," or 
restricting them to the liberty of the yard only, Hog-Reeves 
held no despicable office, and their post was no sinecure. But 
since more tractable breeds have been introduced, which, with 
moderate keeping, cannot run at large however the town may 
vote, Hog-Reeves, like Othello, find their occupation gone. At 



198 

all events, they are now seldom chosen, unless it be for the fun 
of the thing, or in compliment to some radiant benedict of the 
last year. — Field-Drivers and Pounds, also, have mostly died 
out, and gone to the "pale realms of shades;" while Tithin'g-men, 
Stocks, and Whipping-Posts " are known and feared no more." 
We ofter no definitive reason for the last facts, — whether because 
there are no longer side-seats and galleries in the meeting house 
wherein to put the Tithing-meu, no recess under the pulpit in 
which to store the stocks, and no pump on the common to which 
to bind those that deserve chastisement, — because, like the Deer, 
all the naughty ones have departed the limits of the town, or be- 
cause it is less ])opular than formerly to have wholesome over- 
sight and discipline administered. There arc those among us, 
however, who well remember — perhaps have good cause to re- 
member — the Tithing-men. There are those, too, that remember 
the Stocks, which, when not in use, found storage under the pulpit, 
and that the town pump was sometimes used for a Whipping- 
Post. The last case of this kind is still within the memory of 
the living. The whipping was done upon the body of a light 
fingered fellow, who had appropriated certain articles from 
Shubel J^Ianding's clothes yard. He was caught and Blanding 
had the satisfaction not only of receiving his stolen property : 
but of seeing the thief well lashed to the pump, and take the line 
after quite a different fashion, than when he fingered the clothes 
line. Those who have always found it all right with their clothes 
lines, may think it a fine thing no longer to have a whipping-i»ost ; 
but we have seen some very respectable ladies even, after return- 
ing witli an empty basket from the clothes line they left so full 
The (lay before, look, and talk too, for all the world, as though 
they might enjoy Just such another sight, as did Mr. Blanding'.s 
heart good in the ease above recited — But that don't prove il 
riirht. to be sure. 



199 



THE BLEEDERS.— BY JOHN N. BARTLETT. 

Mrs. Margaret Bachcller, wife of Dea. John Baclieller and 
mother of Mrs. Hannah Bartlett, was an immediate descendant 
of the Appleton tamily of Ipswich, — a family remarkable for the 
manifestation and transmission, by some of its members, of an 
anomalous physical organization, subjecting the persons so con- 
stituted to an extreme liability to bleed profusely from their ar- 
teries and veins, upon the occasion of even slight wounds. 
Hence they are called " Bleeders." 

This phenomenon may be thus briefly and accurately describ- 
ed. A cut, or other hurt u])on them, assumes at first the com- 
mon appearance ; soon however, if mclincd to bleed, a cone of 
co-agulated Idood forms upon the rupture. This cone has a mi- 
nute apcture, and is large or small according to the wound. 
After a week or more, as the case may be, the blood begins and 
continues to flow from the cone in a stream, or more moderately, 
sometimes for several days in succession perhaps, until that fluid 
becomes nearly as colorless as water. At this stage the sufferer, 
if he survives, assumes a most ghastly appearance and is fre- 
<j[uently unable to raise a hand or even a linger. 

The bleeding ceases when the cone, which becomes very fetid, 
falls off; a patient surviving this point usually recovers rapidly. 

It is found practically useless to stop the flow of blood at the 
cone, as the continued flow, or pressure internally, would result 
in death. They often bleed profusely at the nose, and many of 
them Iiavo died fr()m tlie slightest M^ounds. 

This hemorrhage is said to have flrst appeared in the Apple- 
ton family, who introduced it here from England. None but 
males are bleeders , and the sons of bleeders are never subject to 
it ; but a bleeder's daughter, and grand daughter on the mother's 
side may have sons so predisposed. The number of progenitors, 
however, who thus resemble their grandfathers, is comparatively 
small. Eight only of Mrs. Bacheller's descendants are known " 



200 

to the writer, (who is himself an immediate descendant,) as 
having exhibited this remarkable feature. 

Mrs. Bacheller had two brothers, Thomas and Oliver Swain, 
both of them professional physicians, and both of whom died 
from excessive bleeding from trivial causes. The eight descen- 
dants, above mentioned, were three sons, one grandson, three 
great grandsons, and one of the fourth generation ; tliree of 
whom are now living. One of the sous, Thomas, while in the 
act of making a pen, accidentally penetrated the skin u})on the 
end of his thuml) with the point of the knife. The rupture was 
too sliglit liowever, to have attracted the least attention from an 
ordinarily constituted person. But, in about two weeks a cone 
(the certain precursor of bleeding) began to form, and a hemor- 
rhage soon followed from whicli he neai-ly lost his life. At 
another time a very sliglit wound upon his foot resulted similarly. 
Benjamin, another son, bled nearly to death several times from 
similar slight causes. Chauncy Bartlett, the grandson, (a son of 
Ira Bartlett,) when about four years old, fell and hit his forehead, 
slightly rupturing the skin ; a hurt which woidd have ordinarily 
received no care or attention ; but whirli, in his case, i-esulted in 
death by bleeding, in a few days. 

Many other instances might be cited, and names given, of per- 
sons near or more remotely connected with the Appletons, hav- 
ing been thus affected. But as the description of one case may 
be taken as au illustration of all, except in degree, perhaps, it 
would seem to ne a work of supererogation. Science and skill 
have been alike baffled in the elucidation and treatment of this 
phenomenon. 

DE LE a ATP]S,— SENATORS, AND REPRESENTATIVES, 

Henry Bond, Delegate to the First Provincial Congress, 1774. 

Nahum Green, " " Second " " 1774. 

Henry Bond, " " Concord Convention for stat- 

ing Prices, 1779. 



I 



201 

Silvaiius Hemenway, Delegate to the First Constitutional 

Convention, 1779. 

John Fry, his substitute, I'^SO. 

Rufus Bullock, Delegate to the Second and Third Constitu- 
tional Conventions, 1820 & 1858. 

John Fry, Delegate at the Ratification of tlie Constitution 

of U.S. 1"88. 

Royalston has furnished three Senators , the first of whom 

died during his first full term ; the others served each two terms. 

Joseph Estabrook, Esq.. Senator, 1828. 

Rufus Bullock, Esq., " 1831, & 1832. 

V.ol George Whitney, " 1863, & 1804. 

Tlie first Representative to the General Court, from this town, 
was chosen May 27, 1 766 ; and at tlie last town meeting warned in 
his Majesty's name. The next meeting was called together, Sept. 
20t]i of the same year, l)ut the warrant was issued under the 
authority of quite a different name, as follows : " In tlie name of 
the Government and People of the State of Massachusetts Bay 
in New England." 

After 1776, the town did not send a Representative again till 
1780 ; but thenceforward with a few exceptions, we have a reg- 
ular succession, generally but one, but sometimes two, annually, 
<iown to 1857. Since then, by virtue of the District System, Athol 
and Royalston alternate. The General Court used to convene 
annually on the last Wednesday in May, — the old election day 
— when the Governor and Government elect, for the ensuing 
year, were inaugurated. In 1831 the political year began in 
January. Hence, since this change, the election of a Representa- 
tive, as by the Record, does not, as previously, indicate the year 
of his service — the choice occurring in November, while the 
member does not take his seat till the first Wednesday of Janu- 
aiy following. We give the year in which each Representative 
served. 



202 



Timotliy Richardson, 1776. 
John Fry, 1780, '83, '84, '85, '87. 
Peter Woodbury, 1788, '89. 

I saac Gregory, 1 7 94, '9 5, 1 80 1 . 

1803, '06 '07, '08. 
John Norton, 1800, '13, '14. 

Rufus Bullock, 1820, '21, '27. 

'28, '29. 



Jonathan Sibley, 1786. 

Oliver Work, 1792. 

Philip Sweetzer, 1798. 

Joseph Estabrook, 1809, '10. 
'11, '12, 15, '16, '17,25. 
Squier Davis, 1823. 

Stephen Bacheller, Jr. 1826, 

'30. 
Franklin Gregory, 1831, '33. 
Russell Morse, 1835, 36, '39. 
Benoni Peck, 1836,1837. 
Salmon Goddard, 1838. 

Hiram W. Albee, 1843, '46. 
'52, '53. 

Silas Kenney, 1848. 

Joseph Raymond, 1850, '51. 

Jarvis Davis, 1856. 

George Whitney, 1859. 

Ebenezei- W. Bullard, 1 864. 

TOWN CLERKS. 

John Fry, from 1765 to 1781, with the single exception of 
1773, when Dr. Stephen Bacheller was regularly chosen, at the 
March meeting, and records the doing of the same, as Town 
Clerk, He signs one other record during the year ; but, in some, 
to us, inexplicable way, John Fry records the May meeting, and 
affixes his usual "Test" to that, and other records during the 
year. 

Peter Woodbury, 1782, '83, '84, '85, '86, '87, '88, '89, '91, '94. 
John Bacheller,' 1790. '92. '93. 
Daniel Woodbury, 1795, '96. 
Isaac Gregory, 1797, ,98, '99, 1800, '06. 
Samuel Goddard Jr., 1801, '02. 
Joseph Esterbrook, 1804, '05, '08, '09 '10. 
Stephen Bacheller Jr. 1807. 



Benjamin Brown, 


1832, '45. 


Asahel Davis, 




1834. 


Arba Sherwin, 


1835, 


'37, 39. 


Benjamin Fry, 


1838, 


'40, 54. 


('yrus Davis, 




1840. 


Barnet Bullock, 




1844. 


Elmer Newton, 




1849. 


Tarrant Cutler, 




1855. 


Joseph Estabrook, 




1857 


Elisha F. Brown, 




1861 



208 

John Norton, 1811, '14, '15, '16, 17. 

Rufus Bullock, 1812, '13. 

Thomas J. Lee, 1818, '21, '22, '23, '24. 

Franklin Gregory, 1819, '20, and fron 1825 to 1836, inclusive. 

Barnet Bullock, from 1837 to 1846, inclusive. 

George F. Miller, from 1847 to '51, inclusive. 

Joseph Raymond, 1850, '52, '53. 

Rufus Henry Bullock, 1854. 

Charles H. Newton, from 1855 to 1865, inclusive. 

TOWN TREASURERS. 

Peter Woodbury, from 1765 to 1770, inclusive. 

Silvanus Hemenway, from 1771 to 1777, inclusive. 

William Town, 1778, '79, '80, 

Jonathan Sibley, from 1781 to 1808, inclusive. 

Ebenezer Fry, from 1809 to 1824, inclusive. 

Rufus Bullock, from 1825 to 1837, inclusive. 

Benjamin Fry, from 1838 to 1554 inclusive, with the exception 

of 1840, when Joseph Esterbrook served. 
Geroge Woodbury, from 1855 to 1857, inclusive. 
Leonard Wheeler, from 1858 to 1864, inclusive. 
Charles H. Newton, 1865. 

SELECTMEN. 

John Fry, 1765, '67, '68, '71, '72, '80, '91. 

Timothy Richardson, 1765, '66, '73, '74, '75, '76, '84, '85. 

Benjamin Woodbury, 1765, '66, 'Qd, '73, '74, '75, '76, '77, '78, 81. 

Nathan Goddard, 1766. 

Isaac Esty, 1767, '68. 

Jonathan Sibley, 1767, '68, '77, '78. 

Peter Woodbury, 1769, '70, '71, '72, '73, '80, '81. '83, '84. '85, 

'86, '87, '88, '89, '91, '94. 
Silvanus Hemenway, 1770, '71, '72, '79, '80, '89, '90,, '91. 
Jonas Allen, 1770, '76, '77, '78, '80. 
Benjamin Waite, 1774, '75, '76, '80. 



204 

Francis Chase, 1779, '81 '87, '88, '89. 

Pelatiah Metcalf, 1779, '82, '86, '88, '90, '91. 

Moulton Bullock, 1780, '81. 

James Work, 1781. 

John Orsborn. 1782, '86, '87, '92. 

Jonas Thompson, 1782. Nathaniel Bragg, lt82, ; 

John Bacheller, 1783, '90, '92, '93. 

Jacob Esty. 1783, '84, '85, '80. '92, '94. 

Henry Bond, 1783. '84, '85. Silas Hey wood, 1783, '92. 

01iv<>r Work, 1784, '85, '88, '89 '90. John Peck, 1787. 

Samuel Goddard, 1791, 1801, 1802. 

Isaac Gregory, 1792. '93, '95, '96, '97, '99, 1800, '06. 

Shubel Blanding, 1793. '94. Nathan Bullock, 1795. 

Ebenezer Fry. 1793, '94. '95, '96. '97. '98, '99, '1805, '06, '08. 

John Norton from 1793 to 1803 inclusive, and from 1809 to 1817, 

excepting 1812. 
Daniel Woodbury, 1795, '96 '98, '99, '1800, '14, '18, '19, '20. 
James Forbes, 1796, '97. John Stockwell. 1797. 
Ammi Falkner, 1798. Ebenezer Blanding, 1800. 
Squier Davis, from 18 )0 to 1803, and from 1810 to 1826, inclusive, 

and 1829. 
Joseph Estabrook, 1803, '04, '05, 'OS, '09, '10, '16. 
Joseph Jacobs, 1801, '05. '06. Stephen Bacheller, Jr., 1807, '10. 
Levi Thurston, 1S07. Amos Jones, Jr., 1807, 1814. 
Jonathan Gale, 1808, '09. '10. Rufus Bullock, 1811, '12, '13. 
Thomas Richardson, 1812. John Holman, 1814, '18, '19, '20. 
David Fisher, 1815. Nathan B. Newton, 1817. 
Asahel Davis, 1817. '27, '28. '31, '32. '33. 
Asa Bacheller. 1817, '21. '22 '23. William Pierce, 1824. 
Benjamin Brown. 1821, '22, '23. '29. '30, '36. 

Silas Jones. 1821, '25, '26. '27. '28. '31. '32. '33, '34. '3"), '38. '39. 
Russcl Monse, 1821. '25 '26. '27. '2s '37 '38, '39, '40. 
Stephen Richardson. 1829. '30. '46. Salmon Goddard, 1830. 
Robert Thompson. 1831. '32. '.33, '34. '36. 
Joseph Davis, 2d, 1831. '35. Joseph Stockwell. 1835. 
Bononi Peck. 1836. '37. '38. '39. '40. '43. 
Arba Sherwin, 1837. Barnet Bullock. 1840. '44, '45. 



205 

Elmer Newton, 1841, Ebenezer Pierce, 1841, '42. 

Hiram W. Albee, 1841, '42, '47. '48. Dam'el Bliss, 1844. 

Benjamin Fry, 1842, '43, '51, '52. Cyrus Davis, 1845. 

Otis Gale. 1843, '44, '45, '46, '58. Adriel White, 1846, '55. 

Joseph Kaymond, 1847, '48, '49 '50, '53, '54, '57, '58. 

Jarvis Davis, 1847, '48 '50, '51, '54. Tarrant Cutler, 1849. 

Solyman Heywood, 1849. Jesse F. Wheeler, 1850, 1851. 

Otis Bemis, 1852, '53. Nahum Longley, 1854, '59, '60. 

Isaac Nichols, 1855. Lemuel Fales, 1855, '56. 

Cyrus B. Reed, 1856, '61, '62. George Whitney, 1856. 

L. W. Partridge, 1857. Harvey W. Bliss, 1857. 

Caleb A. Cook, 1858, '59, '60. Richard Baker, 1861, '62. 

Wm. W. Clement, from 1859, to 1865, inclusive. 

J. A. Rich, 1863. '64. '65. Hiram Harrington, 1863, '64, '65. 

ASSESSORS WHEN A DIFFERENT BOARD FROM THE 

SELECTMEN. 

John Fry, 1766, '78. Wm. Town, 1766, '76, '77, '80. 

Junas Allen, 1766. Henry Bond, 1773, '78, 81, '84, 85. 

Benjamin Wait, 1773. Stephen Bacheller, 1773. 

Peter Woodbury, 1775, '76, '94. David Lyon, 1775. 

John Peck, 1775, '76, '80. David Copeland, 1777. 

Wm. Clement, 1777, 82. Peletiah Metcalf, 1778, '94. 

Timothy Bliss, 1779. John Bacheller, 1779, '80. 

Isaac Gale, 1779. Oliver Work. 1781, '82, '83, '84, '85, '91. 

Ebenezer Blanding, 1781, 1803, '04. Samuel Goddard, 1783. 

Joseph Emerson, 1782, '90, '94. Jacob Esty, 1784, '85. 

Amtni Falkaer, 1783, '86. '87, '88. '89. '91, '92. '93 '97. '98 

1800, '02. '03, '04, '05, '06, 1807, '08 '09. '10. 
Paul Ellis, 1786, '87, '88, '89, '90, '91, '93, '95, '96, '97, "98. 
Daniel Woodbury, 1786, '87, '99, 1814, '15, '16, '20. 
Isaac (Ircgory, 1788, '89, '90, '92, '93, '95 '98, '99, 1800, '02, 

'03, '05. 
Eiiphalet Cheney, 1795, '96. John Norton, 1799. 1801. 
David Fisher, 1796, '97, 1813, '14, '15, '16, '17. 
Salmon rxoddard, 1800, '01, '02, '05, '06, '10, '37; 
Amos Jones, Jr. 1804, '06, '07, '08, '09, '13, '14. 



2JG 

Rufus Bullock, 1807, '13, '21, '22, '25, '2(). 

Isaac Motcalf, 1808, '09, '10. Silas Hey wood, 1817. 

Tarrant Cutler, 1815, '16, '17, '21, '22, '23, '24, '27, '28, '29. 

Benoni Peck, 1819, '20, '27, '30, '36, '40. 

Silas Jones, 1819, '20, '30, '31, '32, '33 '34, '35, '36. 

Asahel Davis, 1821, '22, '23, '24, '25 '26 '28, '29, '31, '32, '33. 

Jonathan Peirce, 1823, '24, '27, 28, '29, 31. 

Benjamin Brown, 1825. Stephen Richardson. 1826. 

Jonathan Gale, 1830. Joseph Davis. 2d, '34 '35. 

Russel Morse, 1832, '33, 34, '35, '36, 37, '40. 

Arba Shcrwin, 1827, '41. Joseph Estabrook, 1840, '41. 

Jarvis Davis, 1841, '50, '55. Peter Woodbury, 1842. 

Tarrant Cutler, 1842, '44, '45. Luther Harrington, 1841. 

Adriel White, 1 842, '44, '45, '46. George Peirce, 1844, '45, 

46, 50. 
Otis Gale, 1850. Franklin Richardson, 1855. 
Lemuel Fales, 1855. Joseph Raymond, 1857, '58. 
L. W- Patridge, 1857, Henry W. Bliss, 1857, '58. 
Jesse W. Wheeler, 1858. Solymon Hey wood, 1860. 
Nahum Longley, 1860. Joseph L. Perkins, 1860. 

SUPPLEMENTARY NOTE. 

Mr. Henry Peck, of Winchendon, has lately erected an appro- 
priate marble slab at the grave of Nahum Green. Special cred- 
it is due to Mr. Horace Peirce, who has taken this matter in 
hand, and, aided by the subscriptions of several gentlemen of 
town, and the liberal discount of Mr. Peck, has now the satis- 
faction of seeing the work completed. 

In Illustrating EzeMd Cutler, (page 93) a generation wa3> 
dropped. He was succeeded by his S., Ebenezer, who m. Phebe 
Wyman in 1785; raised up a family ; settled his S., Ezekiel, 
with him ; and finally removed from town with him. His S., 
Ezekiel, had one, or more children born to him here. Rev. 
Ebenezer Cutler, of Worcester, one of the family, was born here. 



207 

Dea. Benj. fVoodbury, (page 93,) was succeeded by his S., 
Capt. Lot, who m. Martha Waite in 1778; and whose children 
were Ijorn, and some of them settled in town. 

Silvanus Hemenway, (page 103,) should have been located, 
we now are inclined to believe, on the site occupied by the farm- 
house and buildings of Barnet Bullock Esq. — This surname, in 
the records, is spelled as above. 

Jonathan Cutler, (page 104) is probably located wrong. Our 
present information would assign his original settlement just west 
of the corner of the roads between Col. Elmer Newton and 
Ool. Benj. Brown's. Nathan B. Newton bought of him ; and the 
present proprietor remembers to have assisted in filling up the 
old celler-hole of the original dwelling house, on the site above 
indicated. 



CONTENTS. 

Page. 

Preface, 3 

Report of Centennial, 5 

Address, by His Excellency, Alex. H. Bullock, 21 

Poem, by Rev. Albert Bryant, 68 

Our Birthday, 79 

Titles, Territory, and Proprietors, 79 

Scenery, 84 

Act of Outlawry, 87 

Proprietors' Records, 88 

Our Charter, 90 

Early Settlers, 92 

ReliCxIOus Societies, 138 

Hon. Rufus Bullock, 139 

Wild Beasts and Game, 143 

Roads, 147 

The Doctors Bacheller, 150 

Revolutionary Period, and Soldiers, 152 

Last War with Great Britian, and Soldiers, 1 (> 1 

The War with the Rebellion, and Soldiers, 165 

Educv'A'hon, 171 

Graduates, 177 

Longevity, 17 H 

Industrial 1*ursuits, 180 

l^UKiAL Grounds, 1 86 

RoBBiNc; the Grave- Yard, 1 89 

Klizabkth Lady Temple 191 

Public Gatherings, 19'-^ 

Warnang out of Town 195 

Persecution op the Birds, 196 

OnsoLhyrE Town Officers 197 

The JiLKEDERS, 199 

Delegates, Senators, Representatives, and Town 

Officers, 200. 

Suppi>kmentauy Note -06 



E R K ^ T A^ 



Title page, for Royalson, read Royalston. 

Page 3, lino 4, for Commemoration, read Commemorative. 

" 9, " 2,'' Bigelow, read Brigiiam ; and on line 14, for R, read VV. 

" 10, " 14, " Marshall, read Martiat-. 

" 31, " 15, " hear, read bear. 

" 99;— ♦'"TTTymit at. 

" 38, " 2.5, Insert And after tact. 

" 39, " 18, " HIS before SON. 

" 40, " 22, for loner, read loncer. 

" .53, " 6, " Fay, read Fry. 

" 57, " 23, " The, read the, and change the punctuation. 

" 58, " 22, " offlcal read official. 

" 78, " 12, " Here, read Hear. 

" 81, "17," furnshed, read FiiUM.SHED. 

" 90, " 11, omit the brackets, and read RoYALSHlRF. in line 14. 

'■ 91, " 6, for Be read be, and for enacted, erected. 

" 93, " 13, omit the * 

" 96, " 20, for who read Hb, and change the punctuation. 

" 96, " .31, $, read £. 

" 98, "14, insert a comma before Jefferson. 

" 101, " 32, for ofl'ears, read offers. 

" 107, " 13 insert who, before was. 

" 124, " 14, for Joseph, read JosiAH. 

" 125. " 24, " Barker read Backiis. 

" 133, " 2, " preperation, read prei'aratioN. 

" 137, " 8, insert Isaac bcfoi-e and. 

" 149, " 23, for prowers, read PROWESS. 

" 150, " 10, insert the, before Dea. 

«' 152, " 32, for aggitation, read AtUTATiON. 

" 156, " 23, omit AND before ADJoruNED. 

•• 175, •' 20, for their read these. 

" 176, " 4, insert per month after sfiil. 

" 178, " 3, for David read Daniel. ■" 



